OBITUARIES: Frank & Annabel AUER, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., WI ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by: Kent Robarge 28 September 2003 ************************************************************************ Article on Death of Frank and Annabel (Whitford) Auer in Saturday, August 30, 1952 Eau Claire Leader (Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, WI) Highway 53 Crash Kills Four; F.C. Auer, Wife Two of Victims; Illinois Couple Also Lose Lives as Cars Collide in Center Lane of 53 Four persons were killed as a result of a head-on car collision at 2 p.m. Friday on highway 53 between here and Chippewa Falls. Dead at the scene were Frank C. Auer, 68, of 914 Fifth Ave., and Arthur Hurd, 74, Pearl City, Ill. The wives of both men were taken to the Chippewa Falls hospital where both died shortly after arrival. The collision occurred in the center lane of the highway, just south of the drive-in theater and north of Lake Hallie. Investigating Chippewa County authorities said that both cars were attempting to pass at the time of the crash. Auer was headed south towards Eau Claire, and the Illinois car was headed north according to information from witnesses. Coroner Earl Hatleberg, Chippewa Falls, said that both men were killed instantly. Identification of the women was made difficult by the fact that neither carried any identification in her purse. Their ages could not be learned immediately. Authorities surmised that the Hurds were tourists headed north from Illinois for the Labor Day weekend but no further identification has been made. Auer retired from the U.S. Rubber Co. office here in August, 1949. He began service with the company in 1924, as manager of the sales production co-ordination department, and was in charge of the employees sales room at the time of his retirement. While the plant was in ordnance operation during the second World War, he served in the industrial relations division. Auer also served as mechanical superintendent of the Eau Claire Press Co. from 1913 to 1917. Authorities have not been able to fully identify the Hurds, who apparently were tourists headed north from Illinois. Follow-up article/obituary in Sunday, August 31, 1952 Eau Claire Leader (Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, WI) Crash Fatal to Four Ruled Accidental by Authorities Sober-faced Chippewa County traffic authorities credited the center lane of Hy. 53 with four more fatalities late Friday after completing their investigation of the county's worst accident of the year. Their findings were that neither driver was at fault in the head-on crash resulting in the death of Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Auer, 914 Fifth Ave., Eau Claire, and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hurd, Pearl City, Ill. "They just pulled into the center lane to pass at the same time," Sheriff Elmer Paquette reported, "Neither driver had a reputation for driving fast, according to information we've gotten." It is believed that the cars were travelling about 50 miles an hour when they collided near the entrance of the drive-in theater between Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls at 1:55 p.m. The Auers were headed south towards Eau Claire from their cottage at Lake Wissota and the Hurds, on a vacation trip, were headed north. The accident brought the Chippewa County traffic toll for the year to 10. Last year the county had three traffic deaths. Mr. Hurd, who was 74, was a retired bank cashier at Pearl City and was a member of the Stevenson County board and chairman of the board of review in that city. His wife was 69. Relatives arrived in Chippewa Falls this morning to take charge of arrangements for returning the bodies. Services for Mr. and Mrs. Auer, both of whom were 68, will be held at the First Congregational Church of Eau Claire Tuesday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Maurice Haehlen officiating. Friends may call at Prock and Sons Funeral Home here from noon Monday until noon Tuesday and at the church from 1 p.m. Tuesday until the time of the services. Both were lifelong residents of this city. Mr. Auer retired from the U.S. Rubber Co. here in 1949. He had worked in the sales production coordination department of the plant and also in the industrial relations division. He started work at the plant in 1924. He was also mechanical superintendent at the Eau Claire Press Co. from 1913 to 1917. Mr. Auer was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Class of 1908, and was past exalted ruler of Elks lodge 402 here. He was also a member of the Masonic order. Surviving are a son, Frank W., an Eau Claire attorney, and a daughter, Mrs. Donald R. Williams of Chippewa Falls. A sister, Mrs. George W. Hobbs, Lansing, Mich., survives Mrs. Auer, and a sister, Mrs. Clara Ellis, Maquoketa, Iowa, survives Mr. Auer. The couple is also survived by four grandchildren. Members of the Elks will meet at the Club House Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. to attend the funeral of Mr. Auer. Frank Auer Info Father: John Jacob Auer Mother: Louisa Kneer Date of Birth: Aug 1884 Date of Death: Aug 29, 1952 Annabel Whitford Info Father: Robert Whitford Mother: ? Date of Birth: 1883 Date of Death: Aug 29, 1952 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm