Obit: Guenther, William (1890 - 1935)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: GUENTHER BARTSCH SCHIER LUDOVIC PETERSON KEUER WIESNER HANDLE SCHAEFER KUTSCHE NITSCHE

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 05/16/1935

Guenther, William (19 June 1890 - 11 May 1935)

A coroner’s jury Monday night blamed suicide for the death of Wm. Guenther, 44, whose body was discovered in a wood near his Lynn township home at 3 o’clock Monday.

Guenther, who lived at the home of his brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Bartsch, left there at about 9 o’clock Saturday morning, and had not been seen until the body was discovered by Henry Schier, a neighbor, as the latter cut through the woods on his way to the Bartsch home.

Guenther’s absence caused no great concern at the Bartsch home, where it was said that he frequently remained away for a few days at a time. He had apparently never made any threats of suicide, and relatives advanced no possible motive for the act. He had sold his own farm six years ago and since then worked at the carpenter trade.

Investigation by Coroner P. C. Ludovic and District Attorney J. M. Peterson, who were called immediately upon the discovery of the body, disclosed that Guenther had been dead since Saturday morning. Death was inflicted with a 12 gauge single-barreled shotgun and was instantaneous.

The verdict of suicide was reached by a jury consisting of Henry Schier, Ernest Keuer, Louis Wiesner, Elmer Handle, Melvin Schaefer, and Walter Kutsche.

Born in the town of Lynn on June 19, 1890, Guenther is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Christian Guenther, and one sister, Mrs. Herman Bartsch. Divorced two years after their marriage 17 years ago, Mrs. Guenther with their son, Elmer, lives with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Nitsche, southeast of Lynn.