Obit: Kohlbeck, William Andrew (1917 - 1945)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: Kohlbeck, Lube, Burr, Wundrow, Brueggen, Beck, Altenhofen, Drexler, Andres, Hardinger, Thompson

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 07/05/1945

Kohlbeck, William Andrew (25 Nov. 1917 - 2 July 1945)

Two persons were instantly killed and two others were injured when a passenger car collided with a Soo Line freight train at Hewitt, eight miles east of Marshfield, Wisconsin, at 1:05 A.M. Monday. The dead are William A. Kohlbeck, age 27, and his wife, the former Lorraine Lube of Colby, age 24, now of route 5, Marshfield. The injured are Miss Della Beck, age 18, of route 5, Marshfield, and Miss Annabelle Brueggen, age 22, route 2, Marshfield, who were riding with the Kohlbecks.

Apparently, Kohlbeck, the driver, was unable to see the train until too late to stop the car, which hit the next to the last car on the freight train.

The motor vehicle was thrown about 50 feet, but none of the four passengers were flung out of the wreckage. The motor was pushed back as the car was demolished, and Mrs. Kohlbeck’s body was cramped into a small space, but was extricated with comparatively little difficulty.

The accident was discovered by Joe Burr, Jr., 19, and Neil Wundrow, 19, both of route 5. They were driving some distance behind the Kohlbeck car and saw its brake lights flash as Kohlbeck’s attempted to stop. The train crew was unaware of the accident until the freight reached Stevens Point.

Authorities were immediately notified and an ambulance was called to take the injured to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.

Miss Beck was found to have suffered a fractured left femur, or thigh, and several fractures of the lower jaw. Miss Brueggen had a broken right femur and a broken left collar bone, and both suffered other contusions and abrasions. They were reported in fair condition at the hospital this afternoon.

The party of four were on their way home from a dance at Rozellville when the tragedy occurred. Kohlbeck was operator of the Mill Creek cheese factory.

Lorraine Luke Kohlbeck was born in Colby on June 14, 1921. She attended St. John’s Catholic School at Marshfield after her parents moved to Marshfield 13 years ago.

Before her marriage to William Kohlbeck, she was employed in Evanston, Ill.

She was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic church, Hewitt.

Four children, Carol, 6, Sally, 3, David, 2, and Terrence, three months, survive their parents.

Mrs. Kohlbeck is also survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. August Lube, of Marshfield, and seven brothers and sisters. They are: Margaret, Mrs. Robert Andres, Detroit, Mich.; Adelaide, Mrs. George Hardinger, Marshfield; Elizabeth, Mrs. Harold Thompson, Marshfield; and Henry and Irvin of Portland, Ore.; and Verena and James, at home.

William Andrew Kohlbeck was born Nov. 25, 1917, in the town of Day (Rozellville). He attended St. Andrew’s Catholic School there.

On Nov. 20, 1940, he was married to Lorraine Lube at St. John’s Catholic church in Marshfield.

Before he became the cheesemaker at Mill Creek two years ago, he did similar work at Stetsonville and at Riplinger.

He was a member of the Holy Name Society of St. Michael’s church at Hewitt.

Other survivors besides the children, include Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kohlbeck, Rozellville, his parents, and the following brothers and sisters, Charles, Paul, and Frank, Jr., Stratford; Mrs. Jack Altenhofen of Marathon City; and Mrs. Casper Drexler, Wakefield, Mich.

One brother, George, preceded him in death eight years ago.