Obit: Olson, Fred W. (1895? - 1930)

Contact:  Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: OLSON GOSSE SCHORK WORDELL

----Sources: WEEKLY CLARION (Dorchester, Clark Co., WI) 09/19/1930

Olson, Fred W. (1895? - 15 SEP 1930)

Working with the electric light crew at the transformers a mile south of town (Dorchester, Clark Co., Wis.), Monday afternoon, Fred W. Olson met with sudden death by electrocution. Mr. Olson was 35 years old and a native of Sheboygan Co. The following is taken from the Abbotsford Tribune describing the sad accident:

"Olson and a fellow employee of the power company, William Dahlman, also of Abbotsford, who were told that power had been shut off, were sent to make repairs on the line. Just as Dahlman was about to ascend the pole, Olson sprang ahead of him and as soon as he reached the top, became rigid. He remained thus for several minutes, when suddenly he dropped to the ground, a distance of 20 feet.

Attempts at resuscitation failed, and Mr. and Mrs. Laabs motored to Abbotsford to tell his wife of the tragic death. Besides Mrs. Olson, who is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gosse of Colby, and who was Miss Esther Gosse before her marriage, Sept. 14, 1921, he is survived by three children, Jerome 7; Jeanette 5, and Earl 3, and by two sisters, Mrs. Oscar Schork, Milwaukee, and Mrs. Herman Wordell, Greenwood.

Before moving to Abbotsford two years ago the family lived seven years on a farm near Colby. Prior to his marriage he made his home with the Wordell family, who at the time of his enlistment in Company C at Marshfield lived two miles south of Chili (Clark Co.).

He was a member of the Abbotsford post of the American Legion, which will assist at the funeral service to be held at Colby Thursday afternoon."

Funeral services were held at the Colby Reformed Church Thursday afternoon, Rev. H.K. Hartman officiating. The Abbotsford American Legion, of which Mr. Olson was a member, had charge of the services. At the Colby Cemetery where interment was made. Members of the Legion acted as pallbearers.