Bio: Kosmosky, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley (Deaths - 1973)

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

Surnames: Kosmosky, Bertz, Kuhn, Patey, Schleifer, Kaiser

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 3/22/1973

Kosmosky, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley (1917 & 1934 - 15 March 1973)

A murder-suicide was discovered by the sheriff and chief investigator of Clark County last Saturday night when the bodies of Stanley Kosmosky and his wife, Agnes, were found dead in the bedroom of their farm home, located in the Town of Washburn.

The deaths were attributed to 22 caliber gunshot wounds to the back of the head of Stanley Kosmosky, 55, and through the mouth and into the brain of Agnes Kosmosky, 38.

According to David Bertz, sheriff of Clark County, a call was received from Bernard Kuhn at approximately 7:45 p.m. Saturday evening “Expressing concern that they had not seen the Kosmoskys,” or activity around the home since last Thursday. The Kuhn family farm is located near the Kosmosky residence.

Kuhn reported to the sheriff that he had checked the Kosmosky home and found the screen door locked from the inside. Fifteen minutes later, Sheriff Bert and county investigator Dan Patey arrived at the farm home and found the house securely locked.

After forcing entry into the building, Patey found the body of Stanley Kosmosky lying on the bed and the body of his wife wedged between the bed and wall.

Dick Schleifer, deputy county coroner, with the assistance of Sheriff Bertz and Patey believe that Mrs. Kosmosky fired the gun at her sleeping husband and then turned the rifle on herself. The rifle was found beneath Mrs. Kosmosky’s body.

Investigating officers have theorized that the shooting took place Thursday evening. Both Kosmoskys were wearing sleeping attire.

The couple married eleven years ago in Janesville and childless, have lived on the Clark County farm since that time.

Service were held Wednesday morning from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Neillsville, with the Rev. Leonard Kaiser, Marshfield, officiating. The Georgas Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.