Obit: Watson, Jerry (1951 - 1964)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Watson, Shimon, O'Conner, Pautz, Kieser, Hopfensperger

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 10 Sep 1964

Watson, Jerry (25 JUN 1951 - 6 SEP 1964)

A 13-year-old boy, Jerry Watson, was killed when struck by a car Sunday afternoon on the Eau Pleine River Bridge, 3 miles east of Abbotsford.

The boy, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Watson of route 1, Abbotsford, was killed about 4:25 p.m. when he and another boy were walking along the guard rail on the bridge.

Authorities state he either fell or jumped in front of the car without seeing it. The car was driven by Joseph Shimon of Manitowoc, with Mrs. Shimon, a passenger.

William F. O'Conner, Marathon County Coroner, and the Marathon County officers investigated the accident. The Abbotsford ambulance was called to the scene. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by a Colby physician.

The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, Dorchester, with the Rev. R.H. Sprengler officiating. Pallbearers were all school mates, Larry Sundermeyer, Larry Kiefer, Ronald Maldonis, Gene Orth, Donald Weideman and Bob Wittkamp.

During the ceremonies, Miss Dorothy Kieser and Mrs. Charles Pautz sang "O, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways" and "Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness."

Funeral arrangements were made by Polnaszek Funeral Home, Abbotsford.

Jerry Lawrence Watson was born June 25, 1951, at Marshfield. He was a student in the eighth grade at the Abbotsford Junior High School.

Besides his parents, he is survived by two brothers, Steven, 10, Donald 8, and two sister, Debra, 5, and Joann, 16 months.

His grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Eanor Watson of rural Abbotsford and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hopfensperger, also of rural Abbotsford. A great-grandmother, Mrs. Lena Hopfensperger, of Kaukauna, also survives.