Surnames: Loucks, Hildensperger, Nelsen, Merwin, Harrison

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 01/05/1956

Loucks, John Kenneth (20 Dec. 1931 - 1 Jan. 1956)

John Loucks, age 24, a former serviceman and a freshman at the University of Wisconsin, was found dead about 6:30 o’clock Sunday evening at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Loucks, five miles east of Abbotsford on Highway 29 at the town of Holton. Death was the result of a gunshot wound to the chest, apparently self-inflicted, according to John W. Hildensperger of Wausau, Marathon county coroner, who investigated the shooting.

A 22 caliber rifle was lying beside the body on the floor of the enclosed porch at the rear of the home. Members of the family discovered the body when they returned from a dinner to which they had been invited.

John had attended church services with his family Sunday morning. He returned to his home alone after the services to change clothing and to pack for a return trip to Madison. He told his parents he might join them at dinner, but when he failed to do so the family felt no alarm, since he had indicated that he might "catch" an earlier ride back to school. Members of the family told the coroner that they could advance no motion for their son’s death.

The body was taken to the Lulloff Funeral Home in Colby where it reposed until 11:00 A.M. Wednesday when it was removed to the Presbyterian church in Abbotsford where funeral services were conducted in the afternoon by Rev. Richard Harrison. Internment was made in the Colby (Colby, Clark Co. Wis.) Cemetery. The National Guard, American Legion, and VFW units of Abbotsford conducted military rites.

John Kenneth Loucks was born in the town of Holton on December 20, 1931, and attended his district school and the Abbotsford High School. He enlisted in the armed forces in September, 1949, served overseas, including a 20-month tour of duty in Korea. He was discharged in December, 1952. After working on his father’s farm, he entered the University of Wisconsin last fall. He was not married.

Surviving are his parents, two brothers, Charles and Llewellyn of the town of Holton, one sister, Mrs. Carl (Dorothy) Nelsen of Seattle, Wash., and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Emily Merwin of Abbotsford, Wis. One sister preceded him in death.