Obit: Boardman, Phillip A. (1957 - 1962)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Boardman, Jorgenson

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 03/01/1962

Boardman, Phillip A. (1957 - 28 FEB 1962)

A three-city effort to save the life of a four-year-old Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.) boy Monday, ended early Tuesday when he died in Victory Memorial Hospital at Stanley.

Phillip Anthony Boardman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Boardman, died at 12:45 a.m. of Meningococemia, a contagious disease which attack the entire body through the bloodstream. The boy’s father is a partner in the Boardman-Deuel Garage here.

Doctors Philip and Eleanora Jorgenson of Thorp were assisted by hospital employees from Stanley in the effort to save the boy’s life. He was admitted at 1:45 p.m. Monday, after having had a convulsion at home. When the child’s breathing stopped around 6:15 p.m. the hospital used hospital anesthetic equipment to sustain life, while Eau Claire police sped a portable respirator to Stanley from Sacred heart Hospital in Eau Claire.

The emergency equipment helped the child for six hours in his battle for life, until after midnight when, according to his physician, Dr. Jorgenson, his heart failed.

He noted that there is a prescribed course of treatment for persons who have been exposed to Meningococcemia and that steps have been taken to protect them. The boy wasn’t of school age. His five brothers and sister have received treatment and are staying home from school voluntarily as an added precaution.

Hospital Administrator Willard Sperry noted that doctors and nurses were in full-time attendance with the child.

When the need for emergency equipment developed, a call was place to State Traffic Patrol headquarters in Eau Claire. It could not be completed as the office had closed for the day.

At the same time a mobile radio unit installed in the hospital just last Saturday for the Doctors Phillip and Eleanora Jorgenson by Don Resebach, Eau Claire, was pressed into use. Dr. Eleanora called the main station at their office here and the call was relayed to the Eau Claire Police Department.

Eau Claire police pressed a station wagon into use in the emergency and sent it directly rather than waste time transferring equipment.

Sgts. Rudd and Knutson then decided to take the equipment on to Stanley. They were forced, however, to stop for gas at a station on N. Hastings Way, so the trip could be completed. The trip to Stanley took 40 minutes, they reported.

Dr. Eleanora praised the Eau Claire hospital and police for their help.

"They were wonderful at Sacred Heart," she said."  They sent all the different size attachments and complete instructions on how to use them." The police help was "fabulous," she added. "It was a really fast trip."

Dr. Rex Graber, Chippewa Falls, of the state board of health office there, reported there have been no other cases of death due to meningococcus reported in this district this year.

At Marshfield, a doctor reported there has been a "slightly higher" than normal incidence of Meningococcemia in recent months in the central area of the state. He was familiar with cases in Wood County and described the one here in Thorp as being "isolate."  The disease gives very little advance warning in way of early symptoms and develops rapidly, he said.

Angel mass for little Phillip will be conducted by the Rev. Edward Masalewicz at St. Hedwig’s Chapel at 8:30 a.m. today (Thursday). Burial will be at the church cemetery, and pallbearers will be Ernie Koltis, Richard Boardman, Bobby Elkins and Michael Elkins.

In addition to his parents, Phillip Anthony is survived by five brothers, Terrence Michael, John Robert, Daniel Cleveland, Thomas Bernard, Kenneth Mark, and one sister, Ellen Margaret, and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Grace Boardman of Thorp.