Obit: Loucks, John Kenneth #2 (1931 - 1956) 

Contact: Stan 

Surnames: Loucks, Harrison, Kennedy, Ehrenreich, Jakel, Johnson, Cathcart, Knight, Cendt, Laack, Fults, Pollack, Thomas, Galiger, Viegut, Hildensperger, Nelsen, Merwin, Hay, Lamont, Toelle, Smith, Ingersoll, Koerner, Kalepp, Leichtnam, Michlig, Glasel, Meissner, Nikolay, Daenicke, Thompson, Ketcham, Stowell, Eggebrecht, Zoromski, Felt, Hennlich, Stieber, Edwards 
 

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 01/05/1956 
 

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

Many relatives and friends attended the funeral services, Wednesday afternoon, for John Loucks, 24, whose death occurred Sunday. The Rev. Richard Harrison conducted the services at 2 o’clock at the Presbyterian church. During the services, Dick Kennedy sang "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," and "Be Still My Soul," with Miss Lois Ehrenreich as accompanist.  
 

The American Legion color guard and a firing squad from the National Guard, 173^rd F.A. Bn., assisted in the military rites. Internment was made at the Colby cemetery. 
 

Classmates and friends served as pallbearers and flower girls. The pallbearers were Dale Jakel, Jerold Johnson, Lyle Cathcart, Gordon Knight, Malcolm Cendt, and Harland Laack. 
 

Flowers were carried by the Misses Sandra Fults, Jean Laack, and Alice Pollack, and Mmes. Harlan Laack, George Thomas, Miles Galiger, and Laverne Viegut. 
 

John Kenneth Loucks, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Loucks, was born in the town of Holton Dec. 20, 1931, and was educated in the township school and at the Abbotsford high school. He enlisted in the armed services in September, 1949, and was discharged in December, 1952, 20 months of this time having been spent in Korea. After his return, he worked on his father’s farm, and last fall enrolled at the University of Wisconsin where he was studying forestry.  
 

On Sunday morning, he attended church with the family and told of plans to go back to school early. 
 

When members of the family returned at home about 6:30, from a dinner with friends, they found his packed suitcase and body on the floor of an enclosed porch at the rear of their home, located five miles east of Abbotsford on Highway 29. 
 

According to John Hildensperger, Wausau, Marathon county coroner, death  resulted from a gunshot wound in the chest, apparently self-inflicted, by a 22 calibre rifle, which was found lying beside the body. Members of the family told the coroner they could advance no motion for his death.  
 

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Loucks, two brothers, Charles and Llewellyn, town of Holton; one sister, Mrs. Carl (Dorothy) Nelsen, Seattle, Wash.; and his maternal grand mother, Mrs. Emily Merwin, Abbotsford. One sister preceded him in death. 
 

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 01/12/1956 
 

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon last week at the First Presbyterian church for John K. Loucks, 24, who died Jan. 1. The The Rev. Richard Harrison, Abbotsford, and the Rev. T. Clifford Hay, Edgar, officiated, with burial taking place in the Colby cemetery. 
 

Military rites were conducted for Mr. Loucks, who was a veteran, having served 20 months in Korea. Members of the firing squad were James Lamont, Dale Toelle, Jack Smith, Kenneth Ingersoll, Donald Koerner, Harold Kalepp, Jr., Robert Leichtnam and Elmer Meissner. The color guard was composed of Frank Nikolay, Donald Daenicke, M. C. Thompson and H. T. Ketcham. Buglers were Lee Glasel and David Michlig. 
 

Coming from out of town to attend the services were Mrs. Carl Nelsen, and children, Carol and Craig, Seattle, Wash.; Virgil Loucks, Ledyard, Iowa; Mrs. Harry Stowell, Syracuse, N.Y.; Richard Loucks, Canton, N.Y.; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Eggebrecht, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Zoromski, Mrs. Marvin Felt, Wausau; Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Hennlich, Curtiss; Mrs. David Stieber, Colby, and Mrs. George Edwards, Dorchester. 
 

From Abbotsford were Mrs. Emily Merwin, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Merwin, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Merwin and Mr. and Mrs. Ben Merwin, in addition to many friends from the surrounding area. 
 

Relatives here on Monday included Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Merwin and five children, New Ulm, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. George Merwin and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Eggebrecht, Wisconsin Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Archie Merwin and Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Merwin, Wausau.