As Northeast Iowans continue cleaning up from last week’s storm damage, others are reminded of a weather-related anniversary. It was 32-years ago today that tornadoes ripped through Oelwein, Maynard and Charles City. One of the residents who lived through the 1968 twister was Oelwein Fire Chief Wally Rundel. He says a good portion of the town was leveled, including the downtown area and the fire station and city hall.Rundel says there were some unusual phenomena associated with the 1968 storm. Months later, farmers in Wisconsin and Minnesota found letters from Oelwein that had been blown hundreds of miles by the storm.Rundel says one person died in the 1968 storm.
