Family Killed A Few Miles From Destination

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- David and Elizabeth Harris had prepared chili and were waiting for family members to arrive for Thanksgiving, when all three relatives were killed in an auto accident.

Harold Wiseman, Joanne (Harris) Wiseman and Mable Knackmus -- all of West Salem, Ill. -- were five minutes from the Harris home last week when their car collided with a semi-truck carrying 11,000 pounds of frozen turkeys. Their 1993 Oldsmobile failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Oklahoma 10 and U.S. 62 just after 6 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The car, which was southbound, ran under the semi’s trailer and the truck in turn ran over the car. All three passengers in the car were pinned for about two hours and were pronounced dead at the scene.

"We were expecting them for supper," said Elizabeth Harris. "We couldn't understand why they hadn't called."

Joanne Wiseman and Knackmus were David Harris' siblings.

"That's the rest of his family who died in the wreck," Elizabeth Harris said. "They were a real close-knit family."

Harold Wiseman was a retired farmer in Edwards County Illinois, while Joanne Wiseman was a retired nursing home worker, Elizabeth Harris said. Knackmus had worked cleaning offices in a factory.

Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL) - Monday, November 29, 2004

Joanne (Harris) Wiseman, 71, of West Salem, Illinois died Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, of injuries suffered in an automobile accident near Tahlequah, Okla. Her husband, Harold Wiseman, and sister, Mabel Knackmus, also died in the accident.

Joanne was born November 23, 1933 in Richland County, daughter of David F. and Flossie Baker Harris.

She had worked at the Olney Care Center for 25 years, and was a member of Zion United Methodist Church in West Salem.

Surviving are a daughter, Susan Wiseman; three sons, Galen, Kevin and Brian Wiseman; a brother, David Harris; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services at Zion United Methodist Church, with burial in the church cemetery.

Published in Evansville Courier & Press (IN) ~ November 28, 2004