Obit: Reis, Richard Jr.#2 (1957 - 1975)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Reis, Kowalczyk, Telloch, Deck, Osowski

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/29/1975

Reis, Richard Jr. (11 September 1957 - 21 May 1975)

There was a somber mood among graduates of Loyal High School’s senior class at ceremonies last Thursday evening. The event was dampened by the death of one of the seniors the afternoon before.

On Wednesday, approximately 20 Loyal seniors attended a party in a Clark County park just north of Greenwood. Flowing through the park is the Black River which claimed one of them, Richard Reis, Jr., by drowning.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reis, Sr., Rt. 1 Unity, Reis went under while swimming with several classmates. Investigating officers stated that exhaustion was the reason for the boy’s being overcome by the river.

The Greenwood Park borders the Black and has been a source for picnicking, fishing and swimming recreation. The river at the time of the incident was abnormally low for the spring season but the riverbed in the vicinity of the park is reported to be deep. The river has “a hole” there, is the way local residents define the flow.

A fellow senior, Robin Kowalczyk, Loyal, heard Reis’ call for help and attempted to rescue the victim but lost the boy in the ensuing struggle to bring him to shore. Kowalczyk later recovered the body in about six feet of water.

Clark County authorities were notified by classmates at the picnic who tried to revive Reis prior to the arrival of officers. In the area was David Telloch, county juvenile officer, who failed in his attempt at mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Time of drowning was place at 2:30 p.m., with recovery of the body thirty minutes later.

Services for Reis were held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Loyal. The Rev. Chester J. Osowski, pastor of the church, officiated at the rites. Burial was in the parish cemetery.

Reis was born on September 11, 1957, in Washington, Pa. He attended grade school in Bentleyville and saw his first year of high school at Mon Valley. His family moved to the Town of Beaver in 1972 and at that time became a student at Loyal.

Reis is survived by his parents, four sisters, Deborah, Emma Jo, Mary Ann and Juanita; four brothers, Andrew, Daniel, Patrick and Anthony, all at home; and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. F.A. Deck,
Loretto, Pa. David a brother, preceded him in death.

Active in the Loyal chapter of the Future Farmers of America, Reis was also a past member of the high school golf team.