Obit: Driessen, John (1901 - 1937)

Contact: History Buffs
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: DRISSEN BROOKS

----Sources: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 10/28/1937

Driessen, John (4 APR 1901 - 24 OCT 1937)

Staff Sergeant John Driessen died of bronchial pneumonia at Fort Barrancas, Florida, on Sunday morning, Oct. 24th, 1937.

The deceased was born April 4th, 1901, in the town of Worden (Clark Co., Wis.), and is the son of Fred Driessen. In Nov. 1919, he enlisted in the Army, serving at various posts in the United States and two and a half years in the Philippine Islands. He was a graduate of the U.S. Coast Artillery School of Fort Monroe, Virginia, in 1933, where he studied electrical engineering and master gunnery. After spending two and a half years in the Philippine Islands, he returned home on Furlough May 8th, 1937, spending two months with relatives and friends here. Since July he was stationed at Fort Barrancas, Florida. He was taken ill Wednesday and died at the Fort Barrancas Hospital the following Sunday morning, Oct. 24th, 1937.

Sergeant Driessen had reached the age of 36 years, 7 months and 20 days. His untimely death leaves to mourn, his father; six brothers, Fred Fr., Edward, Sylvester and Charles of Thorp, Benedict of Deforest, Wis., and Phillip of Washington; three sisters, Delia (Mrs. Michael Brooks), of Dundras, Wis., Marie of Philadelphia, and Agnes of Thorp. His mother and one sister preceded him in death.

Escorted by Sergeant Patrick Doherty, the body arrived at Thorp Wednesday morning.

Military funeral services attended by the Thorp American Legion members as pallbearers, and guard of honor, were held at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Saturday morning at 9:30 o’clock, Rev. A.M. Muckerheide officiating.

Burial took place in St. Bernard’s Cemetery with salute by the American Legion firing squad and taps.

The following Legionnaires were pallbearers: Wilfred Vanderhyden, Dr. W.F. Nolechek, Tom Polnaszek, Gus Velcheck, Wm. E. Glasshoff, and Mike Teclaw.