Obit: Oelrich, Carroll (1934 - 1949)

Contact: Linda Ewen

Surnames: Oelrich, Hayward, Ku[?]the, Parrette, Hardy, Neuman, Graves, Beisner, Hinz, Ringquest, Singstock, Krueger, Shupe, Luepke, Reinwand

----Source: Spencer Record, Spencer, Wis.) 7/7/1949

Oelrich, Carroll (1934 - 3 JUL 1949)


Carroll Oelrich Drowns Sunday

The Village of Spencer was greatly shocked at about 5 o’clock Sunday afternoon when the fire siren sounded calling rescuers to the Hayward pond on the George Hayward farm to help recover the body of Carroll Oelrich, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Oelrich, town of Brighton.

Carroll, along with some friends who had been playing ball at Riplinger, stopped at the Hayward pool for a cool dip before going home. The fellows waded into the pool when all of a sudden Carroll stepped off into a deep hole. It was about a half an hour before help could be summoned and arrive and the body located an[d] then it was much too late for any help for this young man.

Very commendable was the supreme effort made by many local swimmers in trying to locate the body as soon as possible. Among those who were out there in the water doing all they could was H. A. Ku[?]the, Ray Parrette, Billy Beisner, Leonard Hardy, Hank Neuman and Spence Graves. Billy Beisner finally dived down in about 10 feet of water and came up saying he thought he had felt something and asking for help at that spot. Spence Graves then dived down at that spot and came up with the body on the first dive. The others then started working over Carroll with the use of oxygen but to no avail. Carroll was pronounced dead from suffocation and a blow of extreme saddness went over the people gathered there, including his parents who had been summoned.

Carroll Oelrich, 15 years, 4 months and 18 days old, was born in the Town of Brighton.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, July 6, at 1:40 o’clock at the Swarthout Funeral Home and at 2:00 at St. John’s Lutheran church with the Rev. H. C. Hinz officiating. Burial was in the St. John’s Lutheran cemetery.

Surviving besides his parents are two sisters, Louise and Doris and a host of other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers were Elmer sersch, Wilber Neuman, Ray Ringquist, Bobby Singstock, Earl Krueger and Billy Shupe.

Flower girls were Donna Mae Luepke, Dolores Oelrich, Lorna Neuman and donna Reinwand.

Yes, Carroll Oelrich is gone, that big good looking blond center of the Spencer football and basketball teams who had so much to live for, has been taken from our midst. The grief of his parents and sisters and his many, many friends cannot be measured. We want to extend our sincere sympathy to those who mourn.