Obit: Leffel, Lorraine (1918 - 1930)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: LEFFEL

----Sources: WEEKLY CLARION (Dorchester, Clark Co., WI) 06/06/1930

Leffel, Lorraine (1 SEP 1918 - 2 JUN 1930)

Again drowning has taken toll, for in spite of care or caution these accidents do happen on every hand, but this time it was one who had spent the larger part of her days in Dorchester (Clark Co., Wis.), Lorrain Leffel, the third oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Leffel, of Medford, former residents of Dorchester, was the victim and it happened at the school picnic at Sackett’s Lake last Monday afternoon. They were well chaperoned and every precaution they thought necessary was taken, the children even had to have permits to go into the water and we were told they had such a happy time on the way out, planning their good time and Lorraine, was, as she always was, one of the happiest. Five youngsters, including Lorraine, started in wading at the Frahner beach and they waded until the water was waist deep, when they came to a sudden drop. Malcolm Anderson grabbed Enda Knoll and pusher toward shore and Carol Peterson caught her by the hair and towed her to safety. Dorothy Hug, the fourth one of the party, could swim and attempted to reach Lorraine, but couldn’t. Miss Marcella Newburg, the 6th grade teacher, plunged in with all her clothes on the moment she saw what had happened but was unable to locate the child. Help was summoned quickly.

All Dorchester joins us in offering and everything available done to try to rescue her in time to save her life, but two hours elapsed before she was found and though they worked for an hour it was of no avail.

Lorraine Leona Leffel was born at Stratford, Sept. 1, 1918 and was 11 years, 9 months and 1 day old at the time of death. When she was 4 years old the Leffels moved to Dorchester and here she lived until less than a year ago when they moved to Medford.

Lorraine was a happy little lady, who had a faculty of making and keeping friends and many hearts here were deeply saddened by her early death. But our loss is her gain for she has been transplanted into the garden of God, where the storms of life will never reach her. Besides her grief stricken parents, she leaves to mourn 3 sisters, Gladys, Olive and Alta June, and 4 brothers, Dennis, Delos, Gerald and Russell James.

The funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Rev. Grunwald officiating, and classmates were her pallbearers and flower girls included 4 from Dorchester, Eva Ugoretz, Margaret Franzen, Gretchen Fuchsgruber and Constance Sauter, all dear friends of Lorraine.

Sincerest sympathy to the Leffel family in this dark hour.

Responses

Re: Obit: Leffel, Lorraine (1918 - 1930)

Contact: Brian Tait
Email:  b_tait@verizon.net

I have a question about a WWI, either artillery or mortar round that my father left me before his passing. It's fully intact minus the powder and explosive tip. However, the shell and the round itself are in superb condition. There are markings on it (look British or possibly American) with the writing LORRAINE 1918 written across the bottom edge. It stands approximately 7" high and the round itself is approximately 2" in diameter. There are numbers and letters on the bottom of the shell. Would you by any chance know what something like this is worth? Or, would you know how I can find out more information about this item? I can provide a picture if you would like. I hope to hear back from you on this matter. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely, Brian Tait