Obit: Niemi, Brian #2 (1959 – 1973)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Niemi, Meyer, Hirt, Palmer, Nichols, Wenger, Needham, Torres

---------Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 30 Aug 1973

Niemi, Brian (26 MAY 1959 – 15 AUG 1973)

A 14-year-old Owen (Clark Co., Wis.) youth drowned about 2:45 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, August 15, 1973, in the Miller Dam Recreational Park swimming area in the town of Ford, Taylor County. The victim was Brian L. Niemi, son of Mrs. Janet Niemi, Owen, route 1.

Mrs. Niemi, daughter Mary Beth, age 11, and Brian had been fishing when the latter's line became snagged. Later he decided to go into the water with Mary Beth, who was already swimming, and unhood his line. As the two youths were swimming toward the raft Mary Beth called for help when her brother pulled her under the water, according to deputy coroner Lest Hirt, who investigated, along with Sherrif Al Palmer and Chief Deputy Ray Meyer. John Torres, Chicago, nearby, heard the cries for help and managed to get the girl on the raft, but was unable to find the boy. Mrs. Linda Nichols, rural Lublin, who also went into the water, failed to find the youth.

Aiding the Taylor County sheriff's department with dragging operations, were the Gilman fire department, a member of the conservation department, and area volunteers.

County officials recovered the body at 6:55 p.m. in about 30 feet of water. The drowning was the second this year in Taylor County.

Funeral services were conducted Saturday morning, August 18 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church at Longwood, Clark County. Rev. David E. Wenger officiated, and burial took place in the parish cemetery.

The body lay in state at the Kraut-Maurina Funeral Home at Owen.

Brian was born May 26, 1959, at Chicago, and was an eighth grad student at the Owen-Withee Junior High School.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by three sisters, Janet J., Terri, and Mary Beth, all at home; two brother, Nelson and Richard, both at home; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Walter Needham, and his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Niemi, all of Owen, route 1.