Surnames: Degner, Wnuczynski

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark Co., Wis.) 28 Jan 1960

Degner, Jesse (1906? - 31 Dec. 1959)

Mrs. Jesse Degner, widow of the missing man in the Colby Milling fire, who had been living at Cherokee, east of Colby, is making plans to move to Illinois. She plans to purchase a trailer and make her home near relatives. During the past 10 days she has been staying with Bertha Wnuczynski at Neillsville. She returned to Illinois Sunday with relatives who came for the memorial service for her late husband.

----Source: Madison Wisconsin State Journal January 8, 1960

Search for Colby Victim Is Called Off

COLBY, WIS. (UPP -, A Clark county coroner's jury Thursday called off the search for the missing body f Jesse Degner, 52, Colby, and ruled he died in the explosion of he Colby Milling Co., Dec. 31. Degner's body could not be found in the rubble of the mill. Funeral services for Arnold Elpert, 42, Abbotsford, another victim of the blast, were held Monday.

Coroner Bob Lulloff said the six-man jury arrived at a final conclusion that "everything possible as been done to locate the body and that the search should be stopped." The mill, which is still smoldering from burning seed, was leveled with total damages estimated by owner Irvin Marcus at $250,000. The explosion was believed to have resulted when a spark ignited mill dust.

*Burial Location: Prairie Repose Cemetery, Amboy, Lee County, Illinois

Family Notes

1910 Federal Census, Bradford, Lee, Illinois, United States, family 96

Jessie Degner, white single male

Household Members
Head August Degner M 38 (1872) Illinois
Wife Ella Degner F 34 Illinois
Daughter Alice Degner F 13 Illinois
Son Daniel Degner M 11 Illinois
Son Roy Degner M 9 Illinois
Son Jessie Degner M 4 Illinois
Daughter Helena Degner F 1 Illinois

1920 Federal Census, Bradford, Lee, Illinois, United States, family 57, line 44

August J Degner, white married male
Can Read and Write
Own or Rent: Owner
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Sheet Number and Letter: 3A

Household Members
Head August J Degner M 48 Illinois
Wife Ella F Degner F 43 Illinois
Son Daniel Degner M 21 Illinois
Wife Elnora Degner F 20 Illinois
Son Roy Degner M 19 Illinois
Wife Florence Degner F 22 Illinois
Son Jesse Degner M 14 Illinois
Daughter Mildred Degner F 9 Illinois

1940 Federal Census, Lee Center Township, Lee, Illinois, United States, District: 52-27, Family 139, Line 68

V Jesse Degner, white married male
Last Place of Residence: Maytown, Lee, Illinois

Household Members
Head V Jesse Degner M 34 Illinois
Wife E Mabel Degner F 39 Illinois

Wisconsin Death Index

Jesse V Degner
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 31 Dec 1959
Event Place: , , Wisconsin
Residence Place: , Wisconsin
Gender: Male
Age: 53

Spouse: Mabel E Degner (1902 - 1965)