Obit: Pietrek, Joe T. (1935? - 1970)

Contact: Ken Wood
Email: woodi1999@yahoo.com

Surnames: Pietrek, Bailey, Schroeder, Aldridge, Bert, Patey, Lulloff, Oldham, Sundermeyer

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) Friday; Dec. 11, 1970; Page 1

Pietrek, Joe T. (1935? - 10 Dec. 1970)

Neillsville, Withee Men Killed In Clark County Road Crash

Neillsville--Two persons were killed instantly about 2 p.m. Thursday in a near head-on collision 3 1/2 miles north of Neillsville on a snow-covered stretch of Highway 73.

The victims were identified as Joe T. Pietrek, 35, of Neillsville, Clark County 4-H Club agent for the past 11 years, and Warren M. Bailey, 49, of Withee, Wis.

The collision involved a southbound car being driven by Pietrek, and a northbound station wagon being driven by Bailey.

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Both men were traveling alone. Pietrek was returning to Neillsville from a meeting of Extension Service personnel at Ashland. Bailey, a steamfitter employed at Red Wing, Minn., had called his wife earlier in the day saying he was en route home because a strike had been called against his firm.

There were no witnesses to the crash which occurred in a moderate southward slope in the highway. Sheriff's authorities were notified by David Schroeder, Greenwood, who was first to come upon the scene.

Authorities said the cars had met almost head on. Both remained upright on the road and neither had moved far from the point of impact.

Pietrek had been using a seat belt which had to be cut to liberate his body from the wreckage. Bailey apparently had not been using a seat belt, authorities said. Wreckage had to be pulled apart by a service truck to remove his body.

Authorities said it was snowing at the time of the crash but there were no tracks in the snow to indicate whether either driver had attempted to avert a crash.

The two deaths were the eighth and ninth on Clark County highways so far in 1970.

Pietrek's body is at the Killian Funeral Home in Arcadia, in which community he was born and raised, and where his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Pietrek Sr., reside. A single man, he also is survived by a number of brothers and sisters.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Michael's Catholic Church at North Creek, near Arcadia. The family has announced the establishment of a Joe T. Pietrek memorial fund, naming the Clark county Extension Service as beneficiary.

A graduate of Wisconsin State University - River Falls, and a holder of a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Pietrek had served as Clark County 4-H agent almost 11 years before resigning several weeks ago. The resignation was timed to become effective Jan. 1, 1971, at which time he was to become agricultural agent in Price County with headquarters at Phillips. He was a veteran of the Korean War, and held an assistant professorship with the University of Wisconsin.

Services for Warren Bailey will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Hoeper-Kraut Funeral Home in Owen with burial in Riverside cemetery. The Rev. Arnold Cox will officiate. Visitation may be made at the funeral home beginning Sunday afternoon.

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Mr. Bailey was born June 4, 1921, in Winchester, Ky., where he received his education. He was married in July of 1957 in Clay City, Ky., to Martha Aldridge, who survives him.

Other survivors are two sons, Francis C., Indianapolis, Ind.; and Warren Scott, at home, and five daughters, Carrie Ann, Barbara, Ruby, Dianna, and Jesse Louise.

Investigating at the scene were Clark County Sheriff David Bert, Deputy Sheriff Dan Patey, Coroner Robert Lulloff, and Officers Walter Oldham, Neillsville and Harlan Sundermeyer, Owen, Wisconsin.