Surnames: Leffel, Dommer, Hoernke, Treankler, Steward

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 09/06/1956

Leffel, Otto (8 Oct. 1892 - 30 Aug. 1956)

Otto Leffel, farm operator in the town of Hull, four miles east of Colby, died in the Marshfield, Wisconsin Hospital about 4:30 o’clock Thursday, at the age of 63 years, of a brain concussion sustained about two hours previously when he was brushed from load of hay by overhanging utility wires crossing a town road. His death was the 29th traffic fatality of the year in Marathon county.

The discovering that Leffel, a former tavern operator in the town of Hull and also the owner of farms in the towns of Hull and Frankfort, was missing from the load was made by his son, Milford Leffel, 23, town of Hull, the driver of the truck. He noted the absence of his father when he arrived at his home, about three quarters of a mile from where the father had been knocked off the load of hay.

Leonard Dommer, operator of a farm along which the truck was passing at the time, witnessed the accident from a nearby field but was unable to attract the son’s attention.

The son returned to the scene after discovering the absence of the father and the Colby V.F.W. ambulance was summoned to convey him to the Marshfield, Wisconsin Hospital.

Mr. Leffel was born in March Rapids October 8, 1892, thus reaching the age of 63 years. He lived on farms in the towns of Frankfort and Hull all his life. He married Bertha Hoernke on October 27, 1920, in the town of Wien. They operated farms in the towns of Frankfort and Hull in addition to operating the tavern they sold about a year ago.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at St. John’s Lutheran church in the town of Wien and internment was made in the Colby (Colby, Clark Co. Wis.) Cemetery. Pall bearers were Lawrence, George and Harold Hoernke, George, Jr., Delmar and Sonny Leffel. Flowers were in charge of Virginia, Verla and Joanie Treankler and Audrey Leffel.

Surviving are his wife, his mother, Mrs. Lillian Steward of Colby, five sons, Elroy of Edgar, Route 1, Vernon, Leo and Milford of Colby and Melvin of Medford, three daughters, Miss Bernadine Leffel of Wausau and Marcella and Irene, at home, two brothers, Henry and William of Colby, six grand children.