Surnames: Gottke, Stastney, Schmitz, Sprengler

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 12/06/1956

Gottke, William R. (1934 - 30 Nov. 1956)

William R. Gottke of Abbotsford, Wisconsin, age 22, a serviceman home on furlough from the Naval base at San Diego, Calif., died at about 9:30 o’clock Friday night in the Medford hospital from injuries received an hour earlier when the car in which he was riding alone overturned on Highway 13, about 11 and one-half miles north of Medford.

Grottke was driving north to visit some friends when the car apparently skidded on the icy highway and overturned. He remained in the car.

Two passing motorists reached the scene shortly after the accident and notified Medford authorities. Henry Stastney, Taylor county traffic officer investigated. The Rib Lake ambulance brought Grottke to the hospital. Hospital reports indicated that he died without regaining consciousness.

His death was the eighth traffic fatality on Taylor county highways this year.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Grottke of Abbotsford and a sister, Mrs. Arthur (Arleen) Schmitz of Baraboo. The Grottke family moved to Abbotsford about five years ago.

William E. Grottke is a graduate of Sauk City High School and has been on overseas duty before being stationed at the California naval base. He arrived home shortly before Thanksgiving for a 30-day furlough.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at Christ Lutheran church in Abbotsford, Rev. F. H. Sprengler officiating, and internment was made in the Abbotsford cemetery.