Obit: Krueger, Albertine (1908 - 1943)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: KRUEGER SYTH KOBS COLE DEIGER SCHORER DITTMEYER TINKER MILLER STRADE WELLER BAUMGARTNER

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wis.) 02/09/1943

Krueger, Albertine (21 MAY 1908 - 6 FEB 1943)

Curtiss, Clark Co., Wis. - Four persons were instantly killed when a Soo Line passenger train struck their automobile at the County Trunk N crossing of the Soo tracks at Atwood (Clark Co., Wis.), southwest of here at 11:26 a.m. Sunday.

The four, all residents on the same farm in Colby Township were: • Otto Krueger, 64 • Mrs. Otto Krueger, 53, his wife • Arthur Krueger, 32, their son • Mrs. Arthur Krueger, 34, Arthur’s wife

The two couples were on their way to visit Mrs. Arthur Krueger’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Syth, who live on Highway 73, south of Greenwood, and apparently failed to hear the train whistle.

Elmer Elstrom, farmer living just west of the crossing, said the engine whistle sounded south of the crossing and then was blown continuously, as if the engineer was attempting to warn the driver of the Krueger vehicle.

The rear part of the automobile was hit, and the vehicle was thrown 40 feet north of the crossing. Arthur Krueger’s body was found 50 feet beyond the car and his wife’s body was thrown 40 feet farther north.

The heads of both were crushed and Mrs. Krueger’s right arm had also been broken in several places.

The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Krueger remained in the car. Both were badly mangled and were in the front part of the car, although the couple were evidently sitting in the rear seat when the collision occurred.

The front seat of the vehicle was thrown even beyond the bodies of the younger Kruegers, and a cushion and other wreckage were dragged about 250 feet by the engineer.

The train was brought to a stop and a son of Otto Kruegers, Arnold Krueger, who operates a cheese factory near Atwood, was called to the scene, as was Coroner H.L. Brown, who came from Neillsville to investigate the accident, on of the most disastrous in Clark County history.

Lawrence Krueger, another son, who operates the Oaklawn cheese factory near Curtiss, said he had spoken to his parents during the morning and learned that they were about to leave for a visit at the Syth home.

Otto Krueger, who had operated the same farm in the Town of Colby since his marriage in 1906 and was prominent in the northeaster Clark County community, had rented the farm to his son last fall and both men worked it together.

The Young Kruegers were married last August. Mrs. Arthur Kruger was formerly Albertina Syth, a teacher in the Owen school system.

Funeral arrangements have not been definitely made, but it is believed the rites for the four will be held Wednesday afternoon, probably at the Evangelical Reformed Church at Colby, with Rev. David Gretner officiating.

Otto Krueger was born Dec. 22, 1878, and was married to Alma Strade of Green Grove on Oct. 17, 1906. They had lived ever since on their farm a mile and a half southeast of Curtiss, Wis., near the Strade homestead.

Alma Strade Krueger, his wife, was born in Colby Township in March 1889.

Arthur Krueger, their son, was born in Colby Township on Aug. 26, 1910, and was educated in the rural school there. Albertine Syth, to whom he was married last August was born at Greenwood on May 21, 1908 and graduated from the Greenwood High School and Eau Claire State Teachers College before becoming a teacher at Owen, Wis.

Surviving sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Krueger and brothers and sister of Arthur Kruger, are Walter, at Milan; Arnold, Atwood; Lawrence, Green Grove; Mrs. William (Leona) Baumgartner, Milwaukee; and Mrs. Clarence (Irma) Weller, Tigerton.

Mr. and Mrs. Otto Krueger also leave 12 grandchildren.

Otto Krueger is survived by three brothers and three sisters; William and Hug at Green Grove; Henry at Abbotsford; Mrs. Gusta Kobs, Chicago; Mrs. Louise Cole, Waukesha; and Mrs. Lena Deiger, Milwaukee.

Mrs. Otto Krueger leaves four sisters and brothers: Mrs. Louis (Ella) Schorer, Abbotsford; Mrs. Oscar (Bertha) Dittmeyer, Colby; Mrs. Arthur (Edna) Tinker, and Mrs. Peter (Hattie) Miller, both of Oshkosh; Edwin Strade, Colby Township; Harry Strade Oshkosh; Ben Strade, Sheboygan; and Clarence Strade, on the old homestead in Colby Township.