Obit: Yahnke, Lester (1943 - 1963)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Yahnke, Brooks

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 10/17/1963

Yahnke, Lester (7 JAN 1943 - 12 OCT 1963)

Lester H. Yahnke, 20, of rural Colby, a Marine who was home on leave, was killed in a car accident about 2:15 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, 1963, on a town road in the town of Frankfort (Marathon Co., Wis.), about 8 1/2 miles southeast of Abbotsford.

Mr. Yahnke is the foster son of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Yahnke of route 1, Colby. He was home on leave from Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he was stationed with the Marine Corps.

A military funeral was held at Walworth, Wis., and he was buried there. Arrangements were made at Colby by the Lulloff Funeral Home.

He was killed instantly in the accident when the car he was driving went out of control and struck a telephone pole. A friend, Michael W. Brooks, of Middleton, Ohio, who is also stationed at Camp Pendleton and was home on leave with him, was injured.

He was treated at St. Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield, for a fractured arm and lacerations.

Mr. Yahnke was born in Janesville Jan. 7, 1943. He attended Colby schools and entered the Marine service when he was 17. The two men were due to report back to camp Oct. 19.

He is survived by a brother, Orville H. Yahnke.