Obit: Melcher, Walter P. (? - 1963)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Melcher, Christian, Boullion, Cleasby, LaRose, Lukas, Kaufman, Mesnard, Smith, Molinaro

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) August 1, 1963

Melcher, Walter P. (? - 26 July 1963)

Funeral services were held Monday morning from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at Fairview (near Humbird) for Walter P. Melcher, 65, of Fairchild, who was found dead at the farm of his sister last Friday morning.  His wrists were slashed, apparently by a pocket knife.

Melcher and his sister, Mrs. Selma Christian of rural Humbird, had planned a trip to Black River Falls that morning.  He arrived at her home, and later, Mrs. Christian noticed that he had disappeared.  She found his body in a box stall in the barn.  The pocket knife lay nearby.  The death was recorded as a suicide.

A native of Humbird; Melcher was married to Gertrude Boullion in 1917.  They operated a farm near Humbird until 1926, when he lost a foot and a leg in a railroad accident.  Since that time they made their home in Fairchild.

Surviving are his wife; two sons, Vincent of Milwaukee and Bud of Chicago; three daughters, Mrs. Francis Cleasby of Eleva, Mrs. Sam LaRose of Chippewa Falls, and Mrs. Matthie Lukas of Rockford, Ill.  Twelve grandchildren also survive, in addition to: four sisters, Mrs. Joseph Kaufman of Fairchild, Mrs. Jack Mesnard of Chicago, Mrs. Selma Christian, Humbird, and Mrs. Marie Smith of Spirit Lake, Ia.; and two brothers, Roman of Chicago and Leo of Milwaukee.

The services were conducted by the Rev. Mathew Molinaro.  Burial was made in St. John’s Cemetery in Fairchild.