Obit: Kunze, Anthony (1928 - 1933)

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Surnames: KUNZE OHLINGER TREAT KROENWETTER WEBER ZIMBAL GOELDEN BEHR KOMAREK BRAUN LANG LANG APFELBECK PHRUEHER GINDT THEIRL KAISER KIRSCH DEGRUT

----Sources: COLBY PHONOGRAPH (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 04/20/1933

Kunze, Anthony (26 Mar. 1928 - 14 Apr. 1933)

Anthony Kunze, five year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Kunze of the town of Hull, was instantly killed by a hit and run driver Friday afternoon at about 2:10 o’clock on the concrete pavement four miles east of Abbotsford on highway 29.

At the time of the accident a woman was driving the automobile with a man seated beside her and another man in the rear seat, the sheriff was informed. The car was west bound and was traveling at a high rate of speed over the concrete at Abbotsford after the accident. A filling station attendant noticed that the woman driver had started to pass through the red light at the intersection with highway 13 but stopped, and the man sitting at her side then switched seats with her and started driving the car westward. The car had a Minnesota license.

Anthony Kunze had been playing with three of his cousins, Gerald Ohlinger, aged 9; and Raymond and Bernhard Kunze, who are younger. Anthony was on the north side of the road when he decided to join his comrades who were on the south side of the highway. The front of the car struck him at the side of the concrete slab and as his cap is missing, it is believed it clung to the car. The sedan stopped and the man in the rear seat stepped out and looked back, then hastily reentered the car which sped on westward in the direction it had been traveling.

Harry Treat of Abbotsford, who was traveling east, discovered the dead body. The other boys had been so frightened that they ran away. Trent went to the nearest neighbor, who identified the boy, and they then went to the Kunze home. The boys were located and finally admitted having been with Anthony when the hit and run driver struck him. Henry Kroenwetter, Marathon county sheriff, was notified and he and his deputies worked on clues.

The boy had suffered a skull fracture, was bleeding from the mouth and had bruises on his face and head and a compound fracture of the right thigh bone. The body was lying apparently in the place where the car hit the boy as there were no blood marks on other portions of the road. The concrete at this place was level with no hills obstructing the view. A jury composed of Fred Weber, Albert Zimbal, Frank Goelden, Ira Behr, Frank Komarek and John Ohlinger were impaneled by Coroner Braun and viewed the body preparatory to an inquest if evidence is obtained leading to an arrest.

Funeral services were held at the St. Mary’s Catholic church Monday morning, Rev. L. Lang officiating, and internment was made in the parish cemetery.

----Sources: COLBY PHONOGRAPH (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 04/20/1933

Funeral services for Anthony Joseph Kunze, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Kunze of Abbotsford, were held at the St. Mary’s Catholic church of Colby, Monday morning at nine thirty, Reverend L. J. Lang officiating, and internment was made at the Colby Catholic cemetery.

Pall bearers were Frances Apfelbeck, Leon Apfelbeck, Charles Ohlinger and Milton Ohlinger. Flower girls were Bernice Apfelbeck and Alberta Ohlinger.

The deceased was born March 26, 1928, and had reached the age of five years and eighteen days. His instant death resulted from being struck by an auto while at play on April 14, 1933. The departed leaves to mourn a father and mother and one brother, Albert, Jr.

The out of town people who attended the funeral were: Mrs. Wenzel Phrueher and son Ewald and daughter, Rosceil, of Chippewa Falls; Mr. and Mrs. Matt Gindt and daughter, Adeline of Edson; Mrs. Anna Theirl and son Andrew, of Stanley; Mr. and Mrs. Myron Kaiser and son, Frank Kaiser, Matt Kaiser, Pete Kaiser, George Kaiser, John Kaiser, Charles Kaiser, Mrs. Hattie Kaiser, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kaiser and family, Pete Kirsch and Arthur Degrut, all of Stratford.

Dinner was served to about seventy-five guests at the Kunze home on their return from the cemetery.