Police believe a rural Columbia man’s death on Friday morning was caused by an aggressive bull on his farm.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department responded to the area of Hillcastle Road near FF Road shortly before 9 a.m.

Following  a search, deputies found a male aged in his 50s unresponsive in a fenced-in cattle pasture on the property. 

Chief Deputy Coroner Bob Hill pronounced the man, identified as Dale P. Gummersheimer, 55, of rural Columbia, deceased a short time later. Columbia EMS assisted at the scene.

An Illinois State Police crime scene unit was dispatched to the location to assist in a death investigation. 

An autopsy was conducted Friday afternoon, Monroe County Coroner Vicki Koerber said.

The autopsy indicated that Gummersheimer died of massive blunt force trauma to the chest, Koerber said.

While the coroner’s office wouldn’t speculate as to what led to Gummersheimer’s death, police said they believe a large bull recently purchased by Gummersheimer is most likely to blame.

“There’s absolutely no indication it was anything other than that,” MCSD Captain Dennis Schreder said, adding there were no signs of foul play.

In fact, deputies were instructed by a family member to put the bull down, which they did, Schreder said.

Visitation is set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Quernheim Funeral Home, Waterloo. Funeral services will take place immediately following visitation.

Gummersheimer was employed at Kuna Food Services in Dupo, and was a member of Sister Cities of Porta Loo and the Monroe County Farm Bureau. Among his surviving relatives are three children, Heather Neri, Courtney Gummersheimer and Adam Gummersheimer.