KATHERINE KLECKNER

Body of Missing Woman Found by Searching Party
Wandered From Home, Woman, 85, Drowns Near Two Rivers
The body of Mrs. Katherine Kleckner, 85, of Two Rivers route 2, was found in
shallow water in the West Twin river about two miles from Two Rivers, at 11
o’clock this morning, approximately 24 hours after she wandered away from the
home of her daughter, Mrs. Edward M. Koch.
More than 100 persons joined in the search for the aged woman. They included
Sheriff Elmer Bergner and several of his deputies, friends and neighbors of
the missing woman, Coast Guardsmen, and Boy Scouts. The searching party split
into small groups and combed wooded country on the Henry Menges farm until 9
o’clock Wednesday night. The River was dragged until 2 o’clock this morning
by the sheriff and Coastguardsmen in charge of Lt. Com. Oscar A. Johnson.
Early this morning, dragging operations were resumed.
The body was found further upstream from the section of the river that was being
dragged this morning. It was discovered by Charles Hawes, Two Rivers route 1,
who was a member of a group which also included Mike Schmidt, Lawrence Bonin,
Hugo Ahrndt, and Walter Stegeman. They notified the sheriff who summoned Dr.
Theodore Teitgen, county coroner, by radio. Coroner Teitgen said death was
caused by drowning. Because of the rugged terrain, the body was brought to Two
Rivers in the Coast Guard surfboat.
May Have Fallen
Some members of the searching party believed that Mrs. Kleckner may have fallen
into the stream when she bent over to wash her hands in the water. The position
of the body and the fact that the mittens which she customarily wore were
missing bore out the theory. Mrs. Kleckner, it was said by the Kochs, made a
practice of taking short walks but invariably told her daughter where and when
she was leaving. She was in the garden at the Koch home when Mrs. Koch went into
the basement to do the washing yesterday morning. At first it was believed she
had gone to visit her grandchildren, Richard and Lillian Kleckner, residing less
than a mile west of Highway 147 but she could not be found there.
Mrs. Kleckner was a native of Germany. She came to this country at the age of six
and was reared in the town of Two Rivers. Her husband, John Kleckner, died 23
years ago. Besides Mrs. Koch she is survived by one sister, Mrs. Mary Reidl of
Antigo, 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. The body was taken to the
Klein and Stangel, Inc., funeral home. Funeral arrangements will be announced
Friday.
Manitowoc Herald Times, May 20, 1943 P. 1
********
Funeral services for Mrs. Katherine Kleckner will be held in Two Rivers from the
Klein and Stangel Inc. funeral home at 10 o’clock Saturday morning and from St.
Luke’s Catholic church at 10:30.
The Very Rev. Dean C. V. Hugo will officiate and burial will be in the family
plot in Calvary cemetery. The rosary will be recited at the funeral home at 8
o’clock tonight.
Manitowoc Herald Times, May 21, 1943 P.2.