Lawrence H Wernsing

Obituary: Teutopolis Press - September 10, 1953

Lawrence Wernsing

Lawrence H. Wernsing, 61, road commissioner for St Francis Township, was found dead in his truck Tuesday at about 2 p.m. on a township road southeast of Teutopolis.

Mr. Wernsing was supervising the oiling of roads and had not returned home for lunch yesterday. Adolph Heuermann discovered Mt Wernsing's truck which had crashed into a ditch. Apparently fumes from the exhaust pipe caused a fire and the truck was burning when found. Tom Overbeck arid Harold Thoele assisted Heuerman in removing the body from the truck before it burned. The accident occurred near a bridge on the road between the farm houses of Mrs. Anna Overbeck and Alph Thoele

An inquiry was conducted by Deputy Coroner Dr. Henry B. Runde. Dr. Runde reported Wernsing had apparently died of a heart attack before the crash occurred.

Lawrence Wernsing was born May 23, 1892, in a home south of Teutopolis in which he resided all his life. He was the son of Barney Wernsing and Elizabeth Miller. His father at one time was county treasurer and had moved from Effingham to the present home site before the birth of Lawrence. On October 21, 1914, he was married to Lillian Hawickhorst of Teutopolis.

The deceased was a member of St. Francis Church and of the Holy Name Society. At the time of his death he was completing his 16th year as road commissioner.

Mr. Wernsing is survived by his wife, Lillian; two sons, Ralph and Charles, both at Home; two brothers, Rev Michael Wernsing. OFM of Omaha, Neb, and George Wernsing and three sisters, Mrs. John (Clara) Niehaus and Miss Louise Wernsing and Mrs George (Josephine) Althoff of Dieterich and one son preceded him in death.