Obit: Kokal/Kokaly, Frank (1907 - 1913)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Kokal, Kokaly, Lesnak, Tonick, Baker

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 19 Jun 1913

Kokal/Kokaly, Frank (4 JAN 1907 - 16 JUN 1913)

NOTE: Gravestone says Kokaly, but this obit says Kokal; also gravestone says b. 1906, which matches what the age in the obit is.

Frank Kokal, the little seven year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kokal of the town of Hendren (Clark Co., Wis.), was a victim of accidental shooting Monday forenoon at about eleven o'clock.

The little one, accompanied by his younger brother Tony, was sent with a lunch for their father, who was at work a quarter mile away on the public highway, turnpiking the road. The boys delivered the lunch and returned toward home, stopping on the way at Joe Tonick's, a farm home that was being rented by Mike Lesnak, who lives there alone. After entering the house they opened a truck and found a 22-caliber revolver, which Frank proceeded to investigate, not knowing the weapon was loaded, and probably not realizing the danger there is in playing with such things.

As little Tony Kokal tells the fatal story, Frank had the gun in his left hand trying to see how it operated, when it exploded, shooting off the end of his little finger on his right hand and entering the abdomen, going through the stomach. He then put the revolver back and walked out of doors, where he fell to the ground.

The younger brother immediately ran for assistance, but it was too late. Dr. Baker of this city was summoned and pronounced death due to an accidental revolver wound in the abdomen.

Funeral services were held at three o'clock Tuesday afternoon from the Catholic Church in Willard, and interment made in St. Mary's Cemetery, this city.

The bereaved family has the entire sympathy of all in their sad affliction. It is indeed a sorrowful happenstance, for much has been take from this family.

Thus closes the early life of a little son that was loved and cherished.

(Follow on research by Janet Schwarze)

Add to the Frank Kokal/Kokaly obit of 1913

1910 Federal Census, Eaton, Clark, Wisconsin, family 132, pg. 13

Frank Cokle (Kokal), white single male
Birthplace: Illinois
Father's Birthplace: Austria
Mother's Birthplace: Austria

Household Members
Self Frank Cokle (Kokal) M 32y Austria
Wife Antonio Cokle (Kokal) F 26y Austria
Son Frank Cokle (Kokal) M 4y Illinois
Son Antone Cokle (Kokal) M 3y Illinois

1940 Federal Census, Hendren Town, Clark, Wisconsin, United States, District: 10-16, family 18

Name: Frank Kokal, white, widowed male
Birthplace: Yugoslavia
Birth Year (Estimated): 1877
Last Place of Residence: Same House

Household Members
Head Frank Kokal M 63 Yugoslavia
Son Anton Kokal M 32 Utah
Son Martin Kokal M 28 Wisconsin
Daughter Sylvia Kokal F 22 Wisconsin
Daughter Mathilda Kokal F 18 Wisconsin
Daughter Caroline Kokal F 17 Wisconsin
Son Darwin Kokal M 15 Wisconsin
Cousin Anton Kokal M 57 Yugoslavia