Obit: Josephson, Edgar (1906 - 1957)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: JOSEPHSON SCHIFERL ARENDT CAYLOR MOUNCE GUSTAFSON SCHULTZ MESSER MANDEL JOHNSON MEACHAM DOMER MOONEY HENCKEL BOINS REDLIN FRAMBERGER ZUELKE ZIEGAHN PAASCH MILLER

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) Oct. 1957

Josephson, Edgar (22 Feb. 1906 - 19 Oct. 1957)

The body of Edgar Josephson, 51, 410 S. Cedar Ave., missing since Saturday evening, was discovered by two teenage squirrel hunters in a wooded lot about 4 miles south and a quarter mile east of Marshfield early Sunday morning, just as a searching party prepared to enter the woods and look for him. The dead man was apparently the victim of an accidentally self-inflicted bullet wound.

Larry Schiferl, 17, and his brother, John, 16, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Schiferl, route 5, came upon the body a few minutes after entering the woods, which are located just north of their farm home. Josephson’s .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle lay with 6 inches of the body.

Powder burns and a bullet hole in the man’s flannel shirt indicated that he had been struck in the lower abdomen. County Coroner Dr. Norbert Arendt of Wisconsin Rapids later verified the reasoning. Blood on some leaves about 10 feet from the body and grass stains on the knees of Josephson’s heavy-duty pants indicated that he might have crawled several feet after being shot.

A squirrel, apparently killed by Josephson, was found several feet from the body. Undersheriff Donald Caylor, who investigated the accident, believed Josephson may have dropped the squirrel after being wounded, and staggered and crawled to where his body was found. He apparently was traveling in the direction in which his car was parked when the mishap occurred.

Concern for Josephson’s whereabouts came to the attention of Marshfield police early Saturday evening when Colonel Mounce, route 2 farmer, informed them that a car had been parked at the edge of some woods near his place for some time.

By checking the license number police learned that the owner of the car was Josephson. They attempted to contact his son, Kenneth, who lives at 609 N. Hinman Ave., but were not immediately successful. Later when the son was found he told police he thought his father had intended to go hunting in the morning but didn’t know if he had planned to go in the afternoon.

Early Sunday morning young Josephson went to the station and informed the police that he had checked at several places looking for his father but was unable to locate him. It was then that the search was decided upon.

Cayler, after examining the gun being used by the dead man, declared that in its condition it was a dangerous gun to be carrying in the woods. The safety on the gun had been broken off and the firing mechanism was the "hair-trigger" type.

The victim was born Feb. 22, 1906, near Unity, and had spent most of his life in that area. He came to Marshfield about a year ago and had been employed at Marshfield Homes, Inc. He is survived by his wife, Lucille, Plymouth, and the son, Two grandchildren, Michael and Susan Josephson, are also living.

Funeral arrangements have tentatively been scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday in Trinity Lutheran Church at Unity.

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) Oct. 1957

Unity, Wis. - Funeral services for Edgar Josephson, 51, Marshfield, were held Wednesday afternoon from Trinity Lutheran Church here. The Rev. Roy Gustafson, supply pastor, conducted the rites during which the choir sang "Beyond the Sunset" and "God Will Take Care of You." Mrs. Ansel Messer played the organ accompaniment.

Burial took place in the church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Orville Schultz, Ansel Messer, Harry Mandel, Forrest Johnson, Roscoe Meacham and Ted Domer.

Mr. Josephson, who died Oct. 19 in a hunting accident near Marshfield, is survived by his wife, Lucille, and son, Kenneth, of Marshfield; two sisters, Mrs. Fred Mooney of Rhinelander and Mrs. Howard Boyer of Unity; and two grandchildren.

Relatives and friends who came for the funeral included Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mooney, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Johnson, Rhinelander; Harry Johnson, Antioch, Ill.; Lawrence Johnson, Ogema; Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Henckel, Sheboygan; Mrs. Edwin Boins, Mrs. Rollin Redlin, Watertown, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Framberger, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Zuelke, Stratford; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Ziegahn, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Paasch and Shirley, Mr. and Mrs. James Paasch, Marshfield; Mrs. Fred Miller, Unity; and many others from Marshfield, Colby, Spencer, and Unity.