Obit: Bunkelman, Ralph T. (1900 - 1961)

Contact: Dolores
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bunkelman, Peck, Carleson, Matteson, Buck, Smith, Heimstead, Buddenhagen, Perrine, Westphal, Wesenberg, Van Gorden, Scott, Drescher, Harcey

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) November 2, 1961

Bunkelman, Ralph T. (8 October 1900 - 28 October 1961)

Funeral services for Ralph T. Bunkelman will be held at 1:30 p.m. today (Thursday) from the Georgas Funeral Home, with the Rev. Frank B. Harcey of the United Church in charge. Burial will be made in Rest Haven Garden, Eau Claire, where his sister lives.

There is no exact information on the time of his death. Neighbors report seeing the doors of the car, under which he was pinned open Saturday afternoon.  L. P. Heimstad, Neillsville depot agent who discovered the body, said the car doors were open when he went there to find out why Bunkelman had not reported for work at the Omaha depot in Marshfield that morning.  That was about 9 a.m.

Bunkelman was caught beneath the car near his front porch. Three wheels were off the car.  The front had been blocked up by pieces of wood and a jack was on the ground at the rear.

City police theorized that Bunkelman had been packing the wheels and greasing the car preparatory to winter service when the jack slipped, letting the car down on him.  Near his hand under the car was a drop cord with a light that had been connected with an outlet on the porch, and Chief Lawrence Drescher, expressed the belief that the accident had happened late Saturday afternoon.

Neighbors noted that Bunkelman had not taken his goats inside Saturday night, as was his custom when it rained; but no effort was made to check on the 61-year-old bachelor.

Heimstad was asked by the Marshfield depot, where Bunkelman had been employed as a clerk for several years, to find out why he had not reported for work Monday morning. When he came on the accident, Heimstad drove to downtown Neillsville and found William Perrine, city police officer then off duty, and told him about it.  Other officials were called, and a wrecker was use to lift the car.

A resident of Neillsville for most of his life, Bunkelman was born October 8, 1900, in Waupun, the son of the late William and Elvira (Peck) Bunkelman.  He was a graduate of Neillsville High School, and worked for many years for the Northern States Power Company. During World War II he was employed as a bookkeeper for H. H. Van Gorden & Sons, and for the past several years had worked for the railroad as a clerk in the Marshfield depot.

A sister, Mrs. Brule (Kathryn) G. Carleson of Eau Claire, is the only survivor.

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) November 9, 1961

Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon from the Georgas Funeral Home for Ralph T. Bunkelman, 61, Neillsville, who died October 26, at his home on Black River Road.  The Rev. Frank B. Harcey of the United Church officiated.  Burial was made in Rest Haven Garden, Eau Claire.

Pallbearers were: Lee Heimstead, Elmer Buddenhagen, Lee Buddenhagen, William Perrine, Claude Westphal, and Emil Wesenberg.

"The Old Rugged Cross" and "He Careth for Me" were sung by Mrs. Heron Van Gorden, accompanied by Mrs. Jess W. Scott.

People from out of town here for the service were: Mr. and Mrs. Owen Matteson, Eau Claire; Brule Carleson, Jr., Moline, Ill.; James W. Carleson, LCDR, U. S. N., Albuquerque, N. M.; Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Buck, Oshkosh; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Smith, Hudson.