FONTANELLE MAN, 64, DROWNS IN BATHTUB

W. H. Strenger Believed To Be Suicide Due To Ill Health

W. H. Strenger, 64, a retired farmer, was found dead about noon Friday in the bathtub at his home in the Telbasta community northeast of Fontanelle. According to County Attorney Walter G. Huber of Blair, Washington County coroner who investigated, death was caused by drowning. Huber said the death appeared to be suicide and probably occurred Thursday night.

The body was discovered by Roy Ludwig and Clarence Schafersman, who went to Strenger’s home to investigate after Ludwig, a rural mail carrier, had found a note in the mail box addressed to him. Apparently written by the deceased man, it read: “I am sick. You will find me in the house”. Strenger had been known to be in ill health. After reading the note, Ludwig summoned Schaftersman from the Telbasta store to accompany him to the house.

Mr. Strenger, who was born in the Telbasta vicinity, had been a lifelong resident there with the exception of a few years he had lived at Oakland as a child. He lived alone at the time of his death.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Clarence Wilkening, Fontanelle; four brothers, John of Fremont, Henry of Fontanelle, Ed of Oakland and George of Telbasta; and two sisters, Mrs. Henry Wilkening and Mrs. Luella Meierhenry, Fremont.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #70090916