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A former missionary to Africa was among the victims of the recent Minneapolis bridge collapse that killed at least 8 people.
The body of Peter Joseph Hausmann, 47, a father of four and a former missionary to Kenya, was among the three bodies pulled from the Mississippi River on Thursday.
The former missionary, who moved on to become a computer security specialist, was heading to the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park to pick up a friend for dinner when the bridge collapsed, according to The Associated Press. Hausmann had called home while stuck in traffic but the line went dead.
"There are so many words to describe Peter. Genuine. Honest," said Jeff Olejnik, Hausmann’s boss and president of Assurity River Group, according to USA Today. "He had the utmost integrity.”
According to family, Hausmann was active in his church, community and local schools. He and his wife contributed time and money to helping the poor in Africa, especially children who are victims of HIV/AIDS. It was while he was helping with a mission school in Kenya that he first met his wife, Helen. Hausmann was on the phone with his wife when the I-35W bridge collapsed last week.
“Pete is the type of guy who would do anything to help someone …. He opened up his home to people in need,” said Olejnik to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
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“What happened is all very sad,” Olejnik said. “But he was a good man. Pete is an example to all of us.”
On Aug. 1, the eight-lane I-35W bridge – a major Minneapolis artery – collapsed into the Mississippi River in less than four seconds, bringing with it dozens of cars as well as construction workers that were in the midst of repairing two lanes on the bridge.
The collapse killed at least eight people and injured some 100 people. Meanwhile, an estimated five people are still missing as searchers continue to comb the river for the victims.
Christian organizations have been helping to support victims and their families during the difficult time.
The Salvation Army’s emergency disaster services vehicles have served hundreds of relief workers and survivors food and water since the day of the accident.
In addition, Salvation Army officers (pastors) and volunteers trained in Critical Incident Stress Management are offering emotional and spiritual care.
Moreover, at the request of the State of Minnesota, Salvation Army in the Twin Cities has raised nearly $40,000 to help victims’ families and bridge survivors including helping with funeral expenses, medical bills and other unexpected costs.
Investigators looking into the cause of the bridge collapse say that the metal plates, or gussets, that hold girders together on bridges had failed in the case of the Minneapolis bridge, according to AP. The gussets were originally attached with rivets – old technology more likely to slip than the bolts used in bridges today. Some of the gussets may also be weakened by welding work over the years and some may have been too thin, experts said Thursday.
"It's been a somber past few days," said Olejnik, according to USA Today. “We have a lot of healing to do.”
