09/17/2026
On September 14, 1928, a tornado struck in Rockford, IL. The tornado went through south and southeast Rockford, leaving destruction and damage, many people injured and 14 immediately dead.
The some of those who died were killed at Rockford Chair & Furniture Co. Factory B and the Union Furniture Co. when the buildings collapsed. A farm worker on Harrison Ave and three boys who lived on 7th Street were killed by flying debris. Several companies, businesses and homes were also heavily damaged or collapsed. Among the businesses who sustained damage were Elco Tool, Mechanics Machine, Sall Pattern Works, Luebke Filling Station, National Lock, and Ray Brown & Co. Machine Shop.
The long-established Scandinavian Cemetery received six of the dead. They were Martin Anderson, George Fagerberg, Olaf Larson, August J Peterson, Frank Strom and Sven J Swenson. Tony Martinkas was buried at the Winnebago County Poor Farm Cemetery. It is unknown where John Brunski was buried. The brothers, Bernard and Virgil Cornmesser were taken to Iowa for burial. Arlington Memorial Park, the city’s newest cemetery, received four of the dead, Axel C Ahlgreen, Everett J Cornmesser, Gunner E Ryden, and Herman E Widell.
Axel C Ahlgren (1885-1928) was the only employee of the Union Furniture Co. killed when the building and water tower collapsed, trapping him inside. Axel was born in Sweden, never married and lived with his brother Nils Albert Ahlgren and his family until his death. His brother was later buried at Arlington with his family and Axel.
Everett J Cornmesser (1913-1928) was a cousin of Bernard and Virgil Cornmesser. The families lived on 7th Street and the boys were outside during the tornado. Everett was killed by a flying roof immediately along with his cousin, Bernard. Virgil was also struck by the roof but died at the hospital. Everett was the first of his immediate family members buried at Arlington. He was joined by his parents and some of his siblings in the ensuing years.
Gunner E Ryden (1899-1928) was born in Sweden and emigrated to Rockford around 1923. The tornado happened on his 29th birthday. He was employed by the Rockford Chair and Furniture Co. in Plant B and was killed by the building collapsing. His survivors were a sister in Sweden and two cousins in Rockford, Mrs. Nels G Schiller (Signe Moberg) and Bertil Carlson. His grave is unmarked.
Herman E Widell (sometimes identified in the newspapers as Wydell) (1881-1928 He was employed by the Rockford Chair and Furniture Co in Plant B and was among those crushed by the collapsing building. He left his wife, Mathilda and two teenage children.
