Obit: Hancock, Austin J. (1891 - 1971)

Surnames: Hancock, Becker, Preston, Manthe, Hanvick, Kennedy

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Wood Co., Wis.) Monday, 18 June 1971

Hancock, Austin J. (23 Aug. 1891 - 17 June 1971)

Austin J. Hancock, 79, 300 S. Concord Ave., a Marshfield Western Union manager for 38 years, died at 1 a.m. Sunday at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Hansen Funeral Chapel and burial will be made in Flander’s Field in Hillside Cemetery. Greyton I. Becker, first reader of Christian Science Church, will officiate. Visitations may be made at the Hansen Chapel from 2 p.m. Tuesday until time of services.

World War I Barracks services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Hansen Chapel.

Mr. Hancock was born in Merrillan and received his education in Cry Point and Pray schools. At the age of 17 he went to work for the Green Bay & Western Railroad as a railroad agent and telegrapher. He worked for the railroad until 1947, when he entered the Army and served in France and in the occupation of Germany. For many years after that he was an active member of the Wisconsin National Guards.

Upon his discharge he joined Western Union as a relief manager in Chicago. In June of 1923 in Battle Creek, Mich., he was married to Phyllis Preston, who preceded him in death in August of 1950. He was manager for the Western Union office in Waupaca for 16 years and then became manager of the West Bend office for eight years before coming to Marshfield in 1947.

He was married the second time to Hatti C. Manthe on July 5, 1952 in Marshfield. The couple lived in Marshfield where he was manager of the Western Union office here from 1947 until 1961, when he retired.

He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, World War I Barracks, Senior Citizens Club and the Christian Science Church.

Survivors include his wife; one son, Austin J. Hancock Jr., Madison; one stepson, Leroy Manthe, Hermosa, Fla.; three grandchildren; four brothers, John, Billfield, N.D.; Clinton, Merrillan; Ned, Florence, Wis.; and Donald, Minneapolis; and two sisters, Mrs. Louis (Dorothy) Hanvick, Billfield, N.D., and Mrs. John (Jean) Kennedy, Longview, Wash.

He was preceded in death by a sister.