Wacker, John William "Jack" 1922 - 1940

WACKER, WALTER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 9/22/2023 at 12:53:54

Clayton County Register, 10 Jan. 1940.

The death of Jack Wacker, 18-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wacker, in the Lenth hospital here last Sunday evening at 6:30 brought Clayton county its first automobile fatality of the new year.

Jack was seriously injured last Wednesday evening, shortly after five o'clock a short distance southwest of Farmersburg when the car he was driving crashed into a bridge, wrecking the car and damaging the bridge. His father, who was with him was also injured but not seriously.

Father and son were found, badly injured, in the car cross-ways of the bridge, by Harvey Busch, some two hours or more after the crash. He hurried them to Elkader to a doctor's office after which Jack was taken to the hospital.

Jack's skull was fractured and he had several other wounds on the head. His father had a bad cut over the right eye as well as three other cuts on the head.

The son was unconscious until three o'clock Thursday morning but seemed to be rallying when pneumonia set in and the end came last Sunday evening.

John William Wacker was born here in Elkader on June 17th, 1922, the son of Frank and Anna Wacker and at the time of his death had reached the age of 17 years, six months and twenty days.

He received his education in the local public school where he was popular, not only with his classmates but with students in other classes as well. Had he completed his high school course, he would have graduated with the class of '39 but he dropped from school several months before graduation.

As a student he took part in a number of extra activities and but for injuries would have been one of Elkader's outstanding football players. His death, therefore, shocked the community as well as the school where his friends were legion.

Funeral services were held this afternoon in the home of his parents and then in the Frieden's Evangelical church by his pastor, the Rev. P. Kitterer. A double quartet of former classmates and high school friends sang during the services. Members of this quartet were: Robert Dittmer, Robert Allen, Harlan Reimer, La Vern Huckstadt, George Witte, Clarence Hartman, Burnell Kuehl and Hermy Schulz.

Burial was made in the cemetery at Mederville with the following as casketbearers: Burnell Stoops, Delbert Miller, Charles Gundacker, Orin Kuehl, Donald Witt and Billy Hommel.

Besides the parents he is survived by one sister, Mrs. Lester Walter, Luana, and three brothers, Joseph, Robert and Franklin, all at home. One brother, Donald, preceded him in death on June 14, 1931.

The family has the sincere sympathy of the entire community in this bereavement.