Obit: Luke, Douglas (1953? - 1959)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Luke

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 06/11/1959

Luke, Douglas (1953? - 7 JUN 1959)

A 20-hour search for a missing boy ended Monday when his body was found in Lake Arbutus, located in the southeast corner of Clark County.

The boy, Douglas Luke, 6-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Luke, a Chicago policeman, was last seen about 3 p.m. Sunday while played near a dock while the remainder of his vacationing family was swimming.

Believing he had wandered off into the woods, Clark and Jackson County sheriffs’ deputies, conservation wardens and volunteers searched through the night, using bloodhounds in hopes of picking up his trail.

Dragging operations began Monday morning after a bloodhound, brought to the scene of the tragedy from Eau Claire, twice went to the water’s edge.

Douglas was afraid of water and met his death accidentally as his body was recovered with all of his clothes on, indicating he had not decided to go bathing.  His body was recovered with the use of dragging hooks.

The family had been staying at a cottage near Hatfield at the edge of Black River State Forest.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by an 11 year old sister and a four year old brother.