Surnames: Kowieski, Ryniec

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 08/09/1951

Kowieski, John (12 MAY 1939 - 5 AUG 1951)

A 12-year-old Chicago boy, John (Jackie) Kowieski was instantly killed at about 1:10 Sunday afternoon when the bicycle he was riding was struck by an auto driven by Frank Lencz of Gilman.

The tragedy took place a mile and a half north of Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.) on Highway 73.

The boy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kowieski, was visiting his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Ryniec in the town of Withee, located three miles east and three and one-half miles north of Thorp. Shortly before the accident, the boy and his companion, Donald Ryniec, also 12, left the farm home on their bikes.

It is reported there were five passengers in the Lencz car.

Clark County Coroner John Bergemann appointed a coroner’s jury Monday morning, consisting of Earl Peterson, Woodrow Peterson, Jim Christianson, Rowe Haire, John Blunch and Tony Auberg, all Withee men, to investigate the accident.

The jury went to the scene of the accident about 10 a.m. Monday and then examined the body at the Thorp Funeral Home.

No definite time and place has been set for an inquest upon the Courier going to press.

Wm. Nelson, county traffic officer, investigated the accident.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Francis Piekarski at St. Hedwig’s Church at 9:00 o’clock Wednesday morning for John Kowieski, 12, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kowieski of Chicago, who died as the result of the accident on Sunday, August 5, 1951 at Thorp.

Jack was born on May 12, 1939 at Chicago where he attended school. He was visiting at the home of his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Ryniec in the town of Withee at the time of death.

The remains were transported to Chicago on Wednesday afternoon where the body will lie in state at the Altman Funeral Home at 2649 West Hirsch St., near St. Fidelis Church, until the time of burial on Saturday morning in St. Adalberts Cemetery.