Obit: Jennings, Berlie (1909 - 1961)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Jennings, Vetterkind

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 02/23/1961

Jennings, Berlie (30 AUG 1909 - 18 FEB 1961)

Final rites for Berlie Jennings, 51, Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.), were conducted yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, Feb. 22, from St. Katherine’s Episcopal Church, Owen.  The Rt. Rev. John English officiated, with burial being made at Riverside Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers were Tony Ounifer, Phillips, Shirley Rusch and Frank Gostomski, Thorp, Frank Hillery and Robert Martin, Chippewa Falls, and W.E. Krause, Withee.

Jennings death was a shock to his family, friends and community, as he was found dead at the Clark County gravel pit just west of the Black River on Highway 29 where he was working for the country as a nigh watch while they were keeping their pit free of water.  His body was discovered shortly after his death by another county employee, Tony Weiting, a little before 8:00 a.m. Saturday.  Earlier in the morning Jennings had been at the country garage in Owen for gas with which to operate the pumps he watched during the pumping operations at the pit.

He owned a large farm and taver just east of Thorp, but didn’t like to be indoors all the time and in recent months had been employed by the county.  Three weeks ago he received minor injuries and bruises when a pump caught fire at the pit during the noon hour and he injured his back when he fell in an attempt to extinguish the blaze.

He was born in Wisconsin Aug. 20, 1909, and is survived by his wife, the former Ethel Vetterkind, and one daughter of Chippewa Falls.