Obit: Fabian, Herbert (1936 - 1957)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Fabian, Ehlers, Bartsch, Schmidt, Dobes, Lulloff, Frantz, Schultz, Pfohl 
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) June 27, 1957 
 

Fabian, Herbert (3 December 1936 - 23 June 1957) 
 

Immovable concrete abutments of Clark County claimed their fourth life in 13 months early Sunday when Herbert Fabian of Rt. 1, Greenwood, was killed as a car in which he was riding crashed into one on County Trunk H, six miles west of Christie. 
 

Driver of the car, and a cousin and inseparable companion of young Fabian, was William J. Ehlers, 20, also of Rt. 1, Greenwood.  He suffered a jaw fracture, bruises and shock, and is recovering in Memorial Hospital at Neillsville. 
 

The crash occurred about 2 o’clock Sunday morning although it was a half hour to an hour later when the wreckage was discovered by Everett Bartsch of Rt. 2, Loyal.  As he approached the scene, Bartsch told officers, he saw Ehlers standing beside the car waving his arms.  An ambulance was called from the Paul Schmidt farm, about a quarter of a mile west. 
 

In the ambulance Ehlers was reported to have explained that the steering section of the car had "locked," preventing him from controlling the car.  
 

County authorities were continuing their investigation of the accident, with this as the principal point of their inquiry.  
 

The young men apparently were on their home when the accident occurred.  Their car was traveling westward on the gravel County Trunk H, about a mile east of its intersection with K.  Tire marks indicated that the car started to swing to the south or left hand, side of the road when it reached a point about 173 feet east of the concrete abutment over a small stream.   
 

The left side of the front struck the corner of the abutment, and the car rebounded back and to the side.  It came to rest diagonally across the roadway, blocking passage at that point.  
 

Both Fabian and Ehlers were thrown against the dash and windshield.  Fabian suffered a fractured neck and severe skull fracture. 
 

Called to the scene shortly after four o’clock were Sheriff Ray Kutsche, Undersheriff Frank Dobes, Coroner Robert Lulloff and Traffic Officers, Harry Frantz and Dale Schultz. 
 

Funeral services for young Fabian were to be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday from Trinity Lutheran Church, Loyal, with the Rev. J. C. Pfohl in charge. 
 

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Fabian of Rt. 1, Greenwood, Herbert was born on the home farm December 3, 1936.  He received his education in the Eaton Center and Greenwood schools, and has spent most of his life on the farm.  He has a younger brother, Frank, who also lives at home.