Obit: Smith, Duane R. (1950 – 1968)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Smith, Urman, Isaacs, Peterson, Mertens, Van Winkle, Potocnik, Thorson, Rabska, Stock, Rasmussen, Olson, Cwikla, Hamm, Streba, Klabon, Haynes, Schmitt, Komonec, Taylor, Leskinen, Cicorio, Faude, Seefluth, Kowa, Hoss, Westendorf, Peil, Kliscz, Schweczyk, Zarata, Intz, Bandor, Haas, Kaz, Heirlmer, Sebuina, Lopahr

---------Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 29 Feb1968

Smith, Duane R. (12 MAR 1950 – 20 FEB 1968)

At two o'clock Saturday afternoon, February 24, 1968, funeral services for Duane Smith were conducted from the Hoeper and Kraut Funeral Home. The Rev. LeRoy Urman, pastor of St. John[s Lutheran Church, Withee, officiated at the final rites, with burial being made at Riverside Cemetery.

Classmates and close friends erved as pallbearers, including Gary Isaacs, Robert Peterson, Eddie Mertens, Rory and William Van Winkle and Gary Potocnik. Honorary pallbearers included Conrad Thorson, Michael Rabska, Jeff Stock, Steve Rasmussen, Richard Olson and Richard Cwikla.

In charge of floral offering were Shirley Cwikla, Kathryn Thorson, Kathy Kaz, and Cindy and Sandy Isaacs.

Duane lost his life a week ago Tuesday night, February 20, 1968, when the pickup truck he was driving crashed in a near head on collision with a tractor-trailer unit loaded with 23 head of cattle. The accident ook place at 9 p.m., two and one-half miles east of Owen on Highway 29.

The 17 year old youth, who was born March 12, 1950, at St. Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield, attended Owen-Withee High School and had lived all his life northeast of Owen (Clark Co., Wis.) in the town of Hoard with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Milford Smith, who mourn his tragic death, as does a sister, Sandra, at home, and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Edith Smith of Gilman, as do a host of relatives and friends among the student body who were shocked when word of his death reached the school Wednesday morning.

Duane was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Arthur Smith; and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hamm.

Among the relatives and friends from away that attended the services Saturday were: Harry Hamm, North Chicago, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Cornie Smith, River Grove, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Dave Streba, Fox Grove, Ill.; Mrs. Sophia Klabon and Mr. and Mrs. Church Haynes, Chicago, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Delmer Schmitt, Mrs. Edith Smith, Mr. and Mrs. John Komonec and Mr. and Mrs. Lindy Heirlmer and Cindy, Gilman; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Smith, Holcombe; Mrs. Elden Smith, Mrs. Sharon Taylor, Marshfield; Mrs. Wm. Smith, Minocqua; Larry Mann and Janice Leskinen, and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Cicorio and family, Eau Claire; Mrs. Iris Sebuina and family, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Cwikla, Mr. and Mrs. Chessster Faude and Diane, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Cwikla, Lublin; Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Seefluth and Paula, Abbotsford; Mrs. Walter Kowa and family, Medford; Bruce Hoss and Bruce Lopahr, Wausau; Miss Ann Westendorf and Miss Nancy Peil, Eai Claire; Miss Tony Kliscz and Mrs. Harry Schweczyk, Gilman; and Sue Zarata, Laura Intz, Karen Bandor and Kathy Haas, Thorp, and hundreds of other friends and relatives from the surrounding area.