Leonard "Bunt" Wheeler Obituary, Hamilton County, Illinois LEONARD "BUNT" WHEELER was born on a farm near Lick Creek Church in Crook township On Sept. 8, 1903. There he grew to young manhood. About twelve years ago he came to McLeansboro, Ill., where he has resided until October 23, 1930, when unexpectedly he was drowned in Big Lake near Shawneetown, while trying to rescue a friend. He was united in marriage with Miss Uldeane Vaughn June 30, 1923. To this union were born two children, Thomas Winfield and Phyllis Vaughn. "Bunt", as he was familiarly known, was a friendly, good natured fellow, and was very devoted to his friends of which he had many. He attended Sunday School at the Baptist Church, and was a member of the Agoga Class. He leaves to mourn his departure, his wife and two children, mother, stepfather, two half brothers, two half sisters, an aged grandmother, and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at the N. E. Church Sunday afternoon, Oct. 26, conducted by Rev. C. N. Prince and Rev. W. R. Evans. Interment in the Odd Fellows cemetery. (Another article reads) Leonard "Bunt" Wheeler, aged 27, of this city, was drowned in Big Lake near Shawneetown, Ill., last Friday, Oct. 24, when he jumped into the water in an attempt to rescue his friend, Richard Anderson, who had fallen out of the boat. Wheeler and two companions, Willard Boyd and Richard Anderson, all of this city, went to Shawneetown early Friday morning on a duck hunting expedition. It is said that the tragedy occurred a few minutes after noon. All three men were in a boat out in the lake, when Anderson rose up to shoot. However, he lost his balance and toppled out of the boat into water, which is said to be fifty or sixty feet deep at that point. Anderson could not swim and it was apparent to Wheeler that he was in grave danger of drowning. So without a moments hesitation, Wheeler, who was a strong swimmer, jumped in after his friend, only to sink like a stone and fail to come up again. In the meantime, another hunter standing upon the bank witnessed the accident, and immediately jumped into a boat and rowed out to the spot where Anderson was still struggling. He arrived just in time to grasp Anderson by the hair of the head as he was going down for the last time. For a time, it was thought that he would not live but he was finally resuscitated by hard work. The fact that Wheeler was an excellent swimmer made it hard for his friends to believe that he could lost his life by drowning. However, when his body was recovered from the water several hours after the tragedy, the position of his limbs suggested the theory that he had been stricken with cramps the instant his body struck the water. His heavy clothing and his boots probably prevented him from rising. The deceased was a well known and popular young man of this city, and had a legion of friends who are sincerely grieved by his untimely death. He is survived by his widow and two small children. Funeral services were held at the H. E. Church here Sunday afternoon. Interment being made in the Odd Fellows cemetery. SOURCE: McLEANSBORO TIMES LEADER ------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Misty Flannigan