Surnames: Eckes, Johnson, Simenson, Mueller, Manecke, Schwitzke, Damon, Goertz, Schulz, Brill, Kops, Dillenburg, Dunn

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 05/06/1948

Eckes, Jerome (10 Feb. 1915 - 29 Apr. 1948)

Jerome Eckes, age 38, and Justice Johnson, age 41, both of Unity, were killed instantly when their car struck a truck loaded with five tons of lumber on Highway 29, ten miles east of Abbotsford at 7:15 o’clock last Thursday evening. The accident victims were the third and fourth so far this year in Marathon county.

Both men were killed when a car being driven west on highway 29 by Eckes sideswiped a heavy truck loaded with lumber, which was being driven east by Lloyd E. Simenson, age 27, of Stanley.

According to county traffic officers, Eckes was passing another car on an upgrade and was unable to get clear of the truck, which was coming down hill, when the accident occurred.

Simenson pulled his truck to the right as far as possible and the right wheels were three feet off the concrete when the impact occurred, officers said. The car hit the truck behind the cab and just ahead of the rear wheels. The impact sheared the rear wheels from the truck and tore the driveshaft from the transmission.

The Eckes car was a total wreck. The body of the sedan was almost completely torn off.

Alfred Mueller, Fenwood, whose car Eckes was passing at the time, told police he noticed the Eckes car approaching at a high rate of speed and pulled out to pass. Mueller saw the truck coming and he pulled to the right as far as possible.

The Eckes car started to burn after the crash, but Mueller and Simenson, who escaped injury, put out the fire.

Eckes died of crushing injuries to his chest and Johnson’s head was crushed.

Members of the cornoner’s jury which investigated the crash were Henry C. Manecke, George Schwitzke, Leonard Damon, Theo. Goertz, Ewald Schulz and Alex Brill, all of Wausau.

Johnson, the father of five children, was born in the town of Unity, Clark county, February 14, 1907, and was married to Isabelle Kops in Colby November 11, 1931.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson, Unity; two sons, Lyle and Robert; three daughters, Janet, Patricia, and Lillie; four brothers, Ewert Johnson, Owen, and Salem, Emil and Edwin Johnson, all of Unity.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Lulloff Funeral Home, Colby, and burial was made in the Colby (Colby, Clark Co. Wis.) Cemetery.

Eckes was born in Marshfield on February 10, 1915, and was married to Melba Dunn, August 1, 1942, in Marshfield.

Her served in the army four years and was stationed in the ETO. He is a member of the Marathon Legion post in Unity and of the V.F.W. post in Marshfield.

Besides his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Marsha; a 6 months old son, Dale, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Eckes, Marshfield.

Funeral services were held Monday morning at 10 o’clock at St. John’s Catholic church, Marshfield, and burial was made in Hillside cemetery in that city. The Rev. Walter Dillenburg officiated.

Eckes operated a hotel and tavern in Unity and Johnson was a Soo Line employee.