Obit: Nikolai, Lois (1933 - 1969)
Contact: Stan

Surnames: Nikolai, Ewert, Haley, Date, Schermitzler, Ferguson, Lehnherr, Olson, Schuh, Rustad, Curtin, Crane, Peterson, Bruesewitz, Weber

----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Mon., 24 Mar. 1969

Nikolai, Lois (29 Aug. 1933 - 23 Mar. 1969)

Two Marshfield residents were killed in separate traffic accidents over the weekend.

The victims were Mrs. Floyd (Lois) Nikolai, 409 E. Third St., and Dennis R. Ewert, 23, 313 N. Maple Ave.

Mrs. Nikolai died at 4:10 p.m. Sun.of injuries received in the collision of a van and an automobile at the intersection of N. Central avenue and E. Doege street at 9:17 p.m. Sat.

Deputy Wood County coroner David Date of Marshfield reported this morning that Mrs. Nikolai died of “massive head injuries.”

Marshfield police said Mrs. Nikolai was a passenger in the van which was operated by her husband, Floyd, 41. He was reported to be in Sat.factory condition at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Nikolai complained of head and neck pains and was admitted for observation.

Driver of the auto, Robert L. Haley, 20, 805 S. Apple Ave., suffered multiple bumps and bruises. He was treated at the hospital and was released.

Officers reported that Nikolai was traveling south on Central and was about to make a left turn onto E. Doege street. The Nikolai vehicle was struck in the right front portion by Haley’s auto, which was traveling north.

Damage to the vehicles was extensive. After the initial impact, the station wagon skidded into the porch at the home of Clem Schermitzler, 901 N. Central Ave.

Mrs. Nikolai was the first person to die in Marshfield this year and was Wood County’s second fatality of 1969. The last person to die on Marshfield streets was Lanny D. Ferguson, St. Paul, who was killed on Roddis avenue May 9, 1968.

Ewert was killed in a spectacular one-car crash on County Trunk E, about 3 miles north of Marshfield in Marathon County at 11:10 p.m. Sat.

State troopers said Ewert died of severe neck and chest injuries.

He lost control of his vehicle on an icy section of the road. The vehicle skidded sideways into a ditch, rolled once, and smashed into a utility pole.

The auto came to rest on its top. Ewert, who was thrown clear of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Damage to his 1967 two-door sedan was estimated at $1,900.

Funeral services for Mrs. Floyd Nikolai will be held at 1 p.m. Wed. at St. John’s Catholic Church. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. A. N. Schuh, pastor, will officiate, and burial will be made in the Gate of Heaven cemetery.

Friends may call at the Rembs Chapel beginning at noon Tues.. A general rosary service will be held there at 8:30 p.m. Tues..

The former Lois Lehnherr was born Aug. 29, 1933, in Marshfield and received her education here. She was a 1951 graduate of Marshfield Senior High. Her marriage to Floyd Nikolai took place April 2, 1956, at La Crosse. Prior to her marriage she was employed at the Citizens National Bank of Marshfield.

Following their marriage they lived for 7 ½ years at Ft. Bragg, N.C., and for 2 ½ years in Germany, after Mr. Nikolai, a reservist, had been called to active duty. The couple returned to the United States in June of 1967 and since that time lived in Marshfield.

She was a member of the Grey Ladies of St. Joseph’s Hospital.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by five sons, twins, Paul and Peter, 12, Mark, 11, David, 9 and Jeffery, 8; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. Lehnherr, Marshfield; a sister, Mrs. Richard Olson, Marshfield; and two brothers, John and Robert, both of Marshfield.

The family suggests that any memorials be made to the Marshfield Clinic Foundation.

Funeral services for Dennis R. Ewert will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wed. in St. John’s Catholic Church. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. A. N. Schuh, pastor, will officiate and burial will be made in Gate of Heaven cemetery.

Visitations may be made at the Rembs Chapel beginning at noon Tues.. The general rosary will be held there at 8:15 p.m. Tues..

Dennis Ewert was born June 12, 1945 in Marshfield and received his education at St. John’s School and was a 1963 graduate of Marshfield Senior High. After graduation, Mr. Ewert, a National Guardsman, completed a six-month tour of active duty.

He was married July 6, 1966, at Bakerville to Carol Rustad. They lived at Two Rivers until August, 1968, when they returned here. At the time of his death he was employed as a draftsman at Kenwood Homes in Stratford.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Ewert, Marshfield; a brother, Robert, Kalispell, Mont.; five sisters, Mrs. Jerome Curtin, Arpin; Mrs. Rudy Krane and Mrs. Neil Peterson, both of Mauston; Mrs. Arlyn Bruesewitz, Unity; and Miss Diane Ewert, Milwaukee; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Matt Weber, Marshfield.

State troopers said Ewert died of severe neck and chest injuries.

He lost control of his vehicle on an icy section of the road. The vehicle skidded sideways into a ditch, rolled once, and smashed into a utility pole.

The auto came to rest on its top. Ewert, who was thrown clear of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Damage to his 1967 two-door sedan was estimated at $1,900.