Obit: Oldham, Joseph (1918 - 1933)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Oldham, Arndt, Parker, Schiller, Hagen, Longenecker

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) June 1933

Oldham, Joseph (3 Dec. 1918 - 25 June 1933)

Drowned In Wedges Creek

Joseph Oldham sinks to death in deep water

Loses Grip on Boat While Bathing at Pinecrest Golf Course

Body Recovered

Robert Schiller Aids in Rescue; Efforts at Resuscitation are Unavailing

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Another shock came to this community Sunday afternoon when Joseph Oldham, age14, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Oldham of Pine Valley, lost his life while bathing in the pond near Pinecrest Golf Course.

Joseph and his twin brother Ray, Billy Arndt and Dugan Parker, boys of about the same age, were swimming in the pond and had a boat to which they were clinging occasionally letting go to swim a few strokes. Joseph lost his hold on the boat and suddenly went down in a hole where the water was about 13 feet deep. Before he could be rescued he sank to the bottom.

The other boys gave the alarm and a crowd soon gathered but all efforts to recover the body proved futile, until Robert Schiller went in and after diving four times, he brought the body to the surface. This was about 4 o’clock p.m., and although it was about 2 o’clock when the boy went down, efforts were begun at once to try to restore life. The pulminater was brought out but was not used. Dr. Owen Clark arrived and later Dr. Rosekrans and with others carried on artificial respiration and used every known means of resuscitation but of no avail.

Joseph was born in the town of Pine Valley December 3, 1918, and had spent all his brief life at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Oldham. He was a bright lovable boy and his untimely death has cast a gloom over the home and this entire community. He was a good 4-H club member.

He is survived by his parents, four brothers and two sisters; Ray the twin brother, William Jr. at Neenah; Lafayette and Charlie at home; Genevieve (Mrs. Vernon Hagen) of Neillsville, and Daisy at home.

The funeral was held today (Wednesday) at 1:30 at the Oldham home and 2 p.m. at Schiller’s Funeral home, Rev. G.W. Longenecker officiating.