Obit: Karpinski, Henry (1896 –1968)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Karpinski, Kuester, Lulloff, Bertz, Harycki, Walscak, Wojt, Rhodes, Deniszkiewicz, Krupski, Borowski, Jasinski

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 28 Mar 1968

Karpinski, Henry (14 NOV 1896 – 22 MAR 1968)

Henry Karpinski, 71 years old Town of Reseburg (Clark Co., Wis.) farmer, was found dead in a field on his farm shortly before noon Friday, March 22, 1968, from injuries suffered when his clothing became entangled in a rotating shaft on a manure spreader.

Karpinski, of rt. 3, Thorp, had apparently been working on the spreader when his clothing caught and wrapped around the shaft. The clothing ignited and the body was badly burned.

Elmer Kuester, a neighbor, said he saw smoke in the field and rushed to the scene. He said he found Karpinski on the ground and his clothing was just starting to burn. He was unable to smother the flames with his jacket, and he and another neighbor carried water to extinguish the fire. By the time they returned nearly all his clothing was in flames.

Karpinski suffered third degree burns over about 80 percent of his body. However, Clark County Coroner, Robert Lulloff, said he died of head and possible chest injuries, and was dead before the clothing began burning.

The fire is believed to have started from friction caused by the turning shaft against the clothing. Authorities expressed belief that he had been bound to the shaft for several minutes before the clothing tore loose.

Investigating, in addition to the coroner, was Sheriff David Bertz and Thorp Police Chief Edward Harycki.

Funeral services were held on Monday, March 25th at St. Hedwig's Chapel, with Rev. Father Edward Masalewicz officiating at the ten a.m. service. Burial was in the parish cemetery. Pallbearers were: Edward Koltis, Elmer Kuester, Walter Pajak, Stanley, Lendowski, Joe Lato and Charles Gutowski.

Mr. Karpinski was born Nov. 14, 1896 at Chicago, Ill.. For the past 45 years he has resided on a farm in the town of Reseburg. On June 20, 1922 he was united in marriage to Nettie Walscak at St. Hedwig's Church.

Surviving are his wife Nettie; three daughters, Melanie at home; )Martha0 Mrs. Victor Wojt, Thorp; (Dorothy) Mrs. Ralph Rhodes, Milwaukee, 4 grandchildren; two brothers, Charles Deniszkiewicz of Stanley; William Karpinski of Thorp; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Krupski of Washington, and Mrs. Veronica Borowski of Thorp. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Casimir, and one sister, Mrs. Rose Jasinski.