W.A. CHRISTENSEN

FORMER LOCAL MAN AT COLBY IS FOUND DEAD
William Christiansen (sic), 57, Leaves Party to Visit Office and Ends Life;
Native of This City
NEILLSVILLE, Wis. Oct.15—Aware that he was to be replaced by a lower-salaried
man because of business conditions, W. Christensen for several years manager of
the canning factory at Colby, committed suicide last night by inhaling chloroform.
He left a note for his wife explaining this and adding that "I looked in the
mirror and I looked sick, so I decided to kill myself." Christensen left a bridge
game at the home of friends and went to his office where he committed the act.
Former Local Man
News of the tragedy carried in the above dispatch came as a shock to hosts of
friends of "Bill" Christensen in this city where he was widely known, having been
a former resident here and a brother of Charles Christensen whom he visited
frequently, the last time only a few weeks ago…(sic--Some words missing.)…readily
been engaged upon retirement in this city and had been in the canning business for
years, having formerly been in charge of plants of the Lakeside Canning Co. of this
city at northern points and at one time manager of the Reedsville Canning Co., the
Colby plant, which Mr. Christensen had managed for a number of years, was recently
disposed of to the Libbey McNeil Company and it had been rumored that Mr. Christensen
was to retire.
Brother There at Time
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Christensen were at Colby for a visit at the time of the tragedy,
having departed for that city Monday. It is expected that the body will be brought
here for burial and in that event will be accompanied by the brother.
Mr. Christensen was 57 years of age and in his youth was a teacher in the county until
he engaged in the canning business. He is survived by his wife, who was Lillian Hacker
and one son, William, Jr., who is a student at the University of Wisconsin.
It is believed by friends that Mr. Christensen's mind had been temporarily affected,
as he was known as an experienced and capable man in his business and would have readily
been engaged upon retirement at Colby which plant he had built up.
Manitowoc Herald News, October 15, 1930 P. 2
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BRING BODY OF W. CHRISTENSEN HERE TO REST
Burial of William Christensen, former Manitowoc man whose death occurred at Colby, Wis.,
yesterday, will be in this city and funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon
under auspices of the Masonic order of which he was a member. Burial will be at Evergreen.
The body of Mr. Christensen will arrive here during the day, in charge of Charles
Christensen, a brother, and accompanied by Mrs. Christensen and son. The remains will
be taken to the Frazier mortuary until the funeral which will be held from the Masonic
Temple.
Manitowoc Herald News, October 16, 1930 P. 2
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[Wm. A. Christensen/bur. 10-17-1930/died at Colby, Clark Co., WI/
cause: suicide by inhalation of chloroform]