Obit: Laack, Galen #2 (1931 - 1958)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Laack, Sprengler, Kieser, Juneau, Albrecht, Christensen, Colby, Dohm, Ingersoll, Knight, Schraufnagel, Myre, Underwood, Kalepp, Beyer, Block, Hackel, Anderson, Gumz, Farning, Frautschy, Hutzel, Cronin

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 01/08/1959

Laack, Galen (3 Apr. 1931 - 31 Dec. 1958)

Galen Laack, 27, son of Mrs. Daisy Laack, was fatally injured New Year’s Eve when his car failed to negotiate a sharp curve and struck a tree on a highway near Livermore, Calif. He was traveling south on the Sunoi-Pleasanton road about 35 miles east of San Francisco.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock at Christ Lutheran church, with the Rev. F. H. Sprengler officiating. Burial was made at Dorchester Memorial cemetery.

During the services, the Misses Marilyn and Dorothy Kieser sang, "Just As I Am," and "Be Still My Lord." Herbert Juneau was accompanist and organist.

Pallbearers were Don Albrecht, Harold Christensen, Len Colby, Vern Dohm, Robert Ingersoll, Chet Knight, Allan and Owen Schraufnagel.

Flowers were carried by Mrs. John Myre, and the Misses Letsy Underwood, Shirley Kalepp, Dorothy and Marilyn Kieser.

Military rites were conducted under the auspices of the National Guard and Hanson-Terrio Post No. 139 of the American Legion of which Mr. Laack was a member.

Color bearers were Sgt. F. C. Fred Kieser and Pfc. Edward Beyer; color guards were Pfc. John Block and Ervin Hackel. The firing squad included Sgt. Robert Anderson, Spc. Kenneth Ingersoll, Jr., Spc. James Grambort, Spc. Herbert Gumz, Spc. Duane Kalepp,, Spec. Lloyd Kalepp, and Pfc. Donald Farning.

Lt. Robert Frautschy of the National Guards also represented the American Legion post.

Relatives and friends attending the funeral from away were from Gary and South Bend, Ind.; Ft. Lewis, Wash.; Chicago, Ill.; Milwaukee, Wausau, Unity, and Stetsonville.

Ken Hutzel of Madison was a representative of the Philadelphia Eagles and Gene Cronin was here to represent the Detroit Lions.

Galen Laack, an athlete of note, was born April 3, 1931, in the town of Holton. He was educated in the Abbotsford schools and following graduation, enlisted in the Air Force in 1949. While in service, he was an outstanding football, baseball and basket ball player.

After his discharge from the service in 1952, he entered the College of the Pacific at Stockton, Calif. He played fullback on the freshman team and was picked as the most valuable player of the freshman squad. As a sophomore, he was selected as guard on the varsity squad and played with them for three years. In his senior year, he was named outstanding defensive player and named as guard on the All West team. He also received prominent recognition for all-American in 1956.

He was chosen to play in the East-West Shrine game, playing with the Eastern All-Stars.

After graduation, he played professional football with the Regina Roughriders, Regina, Saskatchewan, and at the close of the season, coached freshman basket ball at the College of the Pacific.

In 1958, he signed with the Washington Red Skins and last October, the Philadelphia Eagles signed him to a contract for that club. He was also associated with an automobile agency in Manteca, Calif.

Mr. Laack also played some baseball and one summer played the outfield for the Marshfield Rollers.

Surviving him are his mother, two sisters, Betty and Nancy of Abbotsford; two brothers, Dan of Gary, Ind., and Pfc. Larry of Stockton, Calif., now serving in the army at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

His father, Gilbert Laack, preceded him in death about 15 years ago.