Obit: Bjornstad, William L. (1945 - 1968)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bjornstad, Young, Goessling, Strohkirch, Roberts, Holden, Gipp, Rittenhouse, Lindgren, Gardner, Rasmussen, Stewart, Barager, Yanke, Albrecht

---------Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 18 Jul 1968

Bjornstad, William L. (3 DEC 1945 – 12 JUL 1968)

This community was saddened late Friday afternoon when it learned of the tragic death of another of its fine youth in a highway accident that occurred three miles west of Chippewa Falls on Highway 29.

Injuries sustained in the crash that took place at 2:50 p.m. proved fatal to William Lee Bjornstad, who passed away at St. Joseph's Hospital at Chippewa Falls, about four hours after the crash.

According to Sam Young, State Patrolman, the fatal crash occurred when a truck pulling a trailer, driven by Albert W. Albrecht, 57, route 4, Chippewa Falls, jackknifed while pulling out onto the highway from the shoulder, and slid into the path of Bjornstad's car, coming from the west.

Young said, "the entire side was torn off the Volkswagen driven by Bjornstad." The other driver escaped injury.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon from the Hoeper and Kraut Funeral Home, with Rev. Robert Goessling officiating. Burial was made at Riverside Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers were John Strohkirch, Larry Roberts, Peter Holden, Cliff Gipp, Jack Rittenhouse and Everett Lindgren. In charge of the floral offerings were Nancy Stewart, Kate Gardner, Susan Rasmussen and Jean Barager.

Bill, the son of Elsie Yanke and the late Arnold Bjornstad, was born on December 3, 1945, in Owen (Clark Co., Wis.), and had attended schools here, graduating in the class of 1964. During his high school career he starred in baseball and basketball and was voted Badger State Boy in his junior year, plus holding many other class and school offices. He was a senior student at WSU, Eau Claire, and was to graduate with the mid-year class of 1969. At the time of his death he was returning home from the Twin Cities, serving as a sales representative for Swift Company.

Bill was a personable chap who had a host of friends that share his loss and sorrow with his mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Yanke, and brother James.