Obit: Luchterhand, Howard Jacob (1957 - 1969)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Luchterhand, Johnson, Schoen, Evenson

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 7/17/1969

Luchterhand, Howard Jacob (27 July 1957 - 15 July 1969)

Tragedy struck on Clark County’s highways again late Tuesday afternoon, taking the life of Howard Jacob Luchterhand, 11, Rt. 1 Neillsville. He was the ninth person to die in highway accidents in Clark County this year. Howard was pinned beneath a tractor which overturned in a ditch about four miles northeast of Neillsville on County Trunk C. The mishap occurred about 5:40 p.m. near the Peaceful Pines Sunday school. He was one of eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Luchterhand of Rt. 1 Neillsville.

According to a county traffic department report, Howard had stopped his tractor on the shoulder of the county trunk about a third of a mile from his home. He passed a few words with Rodney Schoen, a neighbor youth who also was driving a tractor, then started to make a “U” turn to go back toward his house. He apparently lost control of the tractor and it went into the ditch, overturning and pinning him under the seat.

He was taken to Memorial Hospital by ambulance, where he was reported dead on arrival.

One of eight children of Earl and Sylvia (Johnson) Luchterhand, Howard was born July 27, 1957, in Neillsville, and attended the elementary school in this city. He is survived by his parents; two sisters, Eileen and Charlene, at home; and by five brothers, Armond, with the Army at Fort Lewis, Wash., Jeffrey, Dennis, Glen and Terry, all at home.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday from the Zion American Lutheran Church in the Town of Grant, with the Rev. Evenson in charge. Burial will be made in the church cemetery.

The body will lie in state at the Georgas Funeral Home in Neillsville from Friday morning until noon Saturday.