Obit: Pals, Wesley (1898 - 1963)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Pals, Kittel, Vestweber, Hoff, Tischendorf, Wiskow

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 12/12/1963

Pals, Wesley (21 DEC 1898 - 8 DEC 1963)

Wesley Pals, 64, of rural Abbotsford, was killed instantly about 2:30 a.m. Sunday when struck by a car while walking on Highway 29, about one and one-half miles east of Abbotsford.

Mr. Pals was walking west on the highway, near the centerline, when he was struck from behind by a car driven by Thomas Kittle, 22, of Abbotsford, who was also traveling west.

Kittel told Marathon County authorities, who investigated the accident, that it was snowing heavily, and Mr. Pals, who was dressed in dark clothing, was not visible until it was too late, although he tried to avoid hitting him.

Mr. Pals' car was found in a ditch not far from the scene of the accident, and authorities surmise that he was walking dazedly toward Abbotsford following the accident.

Funeral services for Mr. Pals were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the First Presbyterian Church where the body was taken at noon from the Polnaszek Funeral Home. The Rev. Charles E. Glidden was the officiating minister and Miss Jackie Scheel was the organist.

Interment was made in the Abbotsford Cemetery. The pallbearers were Mel Atzen, Lowell Dorn, Morris Gierl, Lawrence Hopfelsperger, Ray Kiefer and Lawrence Watson.

Wesley Pals was born Dec. 21, 1898, in Iowa. He was married at Clarion, Ia. To Anna Vestweber Jan. 26, 1931. They lived in the Medford and Goodrich areas in Taylor County for a number of years, and in 1950 came to the Abbotsford area where Mr. Pals was employed in farm work by Harold Christensen for about 10 years.

The family lived in Abbotsford for a time, and the past years lived on a farm east of the village.

He is survived by Mrs. Pals and their five daughters, Mrs. Morris (Lorene) Hoff and Miss Lorraine Pals, both of Phoenix, Ariz., Mrs. George (Betty) Tischendorf of Unity, Mrs. Richard (Verdonna) Wiskow of Milwaukee and Miss Jeanette Pals, at home.

Three grandchildren and four brothers and four sisters also survive.

Preceding him in death were one sister and two brothers.