Obit: Cernik, Joseph Jr. (1909 - 1935)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Cernik, Longenecker

----Sources: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 8 Aug 1935

Cernik, Joseph Jr. (26 July 1909 - 30 July 1935)

Joseph Cernik, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph, Sr., of the town of Levis, met a tragic death in Chicago July 30. He had taken his car to drive his girl friend to her home, his two sisters riding with them. At a street intersection he had stopped his car when it was struck by a heavy truck. Joseph was thrown out on the pavement and received injuries from which he died soon after. The young lady with him in the front seat was very badly injured and is in a hospital, the two sisters in the rear seat were not seriously hurt.

The parents were called immediately and Mr. Cernik left at once for Chicago. Brief funeral services were held there and the body was brought to Neillsville were services were held Friday afternoon at Schiller’s Funeral home, Rev. G. W. Longenecker officiating. Burial took place in Levis Cemetery.

Joseph Cernik was born in Czecho-Slovakia, July 26, 1909, and had just reached the age of 26 at the time of his death. When he was about a year old, his parents came to America and lived for four years in Chicago. They then came to Clark County and bought a farm in the Town of Levis where Joseph grew up and attended the rural school. When he was sixteen years old he came to work on Maple Glen Farm, where he was employed for a year and a half. He was then offered employment in a bakery in Chicago where he worked for some time, and attended night school, fitting himself for electrical work. Securing a position with the Bell Telephone Co., he was promoted from time to time until the financial depression stopped all construction work by that company. He came home and worked at odd jobs for a time and traveled about in search of work; about six months ago he was offered employment by an uncle in Chicago and until his death had been at work there.

Joseph was a fine, upright young man. He was faithful and conscientious his work and has a very pleasing personality. For more than a year he lived in our home and seemed like a member of our family. His death just at the doorway of life seems like a great loss to the world. The deepest sympathy is felt in this community for the bereaved family.

He leaves besides his parents, two brothers, and four sisters, Mary and Rosie; employed in Chicago; Charlie, 19, Jerry 16, Sadie 18 and Tillie, 9, at home; besides other relatives in Chicago.