River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-05-26
Ludwig franzen
Meets Tragic Death


Ludwig Franzen, member Of the
Junior class of the Normal school,
was overcome by an attack Of heart
trouble while bathing in the lower ell
ectric power plant pond about seven
o'clock last Friday evening. A COM
panion, G. Moran, who was swimn-
ing nearby when Frarzen was striclS-
en-, failed in heroic attempt to get
Ludwig to shore. Several other young
men were across the river dressing
after swim. They swan across the
river and joined Moran in diving Tor
the body, keeping up their efforts un-
til they were exhausted. /
Word was sent up. town, and in
short time hundreds of people Were
assembled along the river banks and
on the ledge above the power plant. a
boat was brought down from the mill
pond and after an hours search the
body was brought up from point fiji
teen feet from shore opposite the
northwest end of the dam.
Funeral services were held in the
Normal school auditorium Sunday at
ternoon, and the attendance was the
largest that this city has ever known.
Each of the several organizations of
which Ludwig was member attended
in body-the Masonic Lodge, the
Legion, the Eastern Star and the
Normal School Junior class. He was
armorer for Co. "AD and that organ
ization was present, leading the
march to Greenwood cemetery and
furnishing firing squad and bugler
at the grave The Masons held Their
services at the grave, and the pail
bearers were from the lodge.
The casket was taken from Lusk's
undertaking parlors to the Normal
auditorium about 2:30 and many
viewed the remains. The casket and
rostrum above it were covered with
beautiful floral offerings from his
classmates, his teachers, the lodges,
the Reese house, where he roomed,
the Follansbee Club, and from NUM-
erous friends about town.
Eight young men sang two sell
ections for the services at the Nor
NAL school, and the speakers were
Rev. d. B. Spencer, Rev. j. Q. Thrush
and President j. H. Ames. President
Ames gave the following tribute:
Ludwig Franzen
Ludwig Franzen, for whom today
these funeral services are being held,
died far from the land which gave
him birth. There is present here no
one related to him by blood ties, even
remotely, but We, his friends IN the
River Falls Normal School, and IN
the River Falls community, are gath
cred here to mourn this adopted son,
and because there is no relative here
to grieve over his loss, so oil the more
do we make the loss our own.
Ludwig Franzen was born June IL,
1898. His native sland was Courland
one of the East Prussian provinces Of
the German Empire before the World
War. His mother was a Prussian, his
father was Lettish.
Ludwig came to the United States
/ in 1914 just prior to the opening OF
the World War. He made his home.
for short time in Northern MINES
ota. coming to River Falls in 1915
He entered the River Falls Normal
school in 1915, taking work for some
little time in the grades Of the Train
ing Department, later becoming stu
dent in the Normal Department.
Very shorty after the declaration
of war by the United States against
Germany, June 2, 1917, Ludwig enlist
ed at Milwaukee on the U. S. 5. Tus-'
carora. The Tuscarora became part
of the United States Naval Coast
Guard Service, and was stationed in
American and Central American wat
ers during the period of the war
Ludwig was discharged June 5,
1919, having served few days more
than two years. Upon his discharge
he returned to River Falls and re-en-
tered the Normal School. He was
member of the Junior class at the
time of his tragic death, May goth.
z Let us consider for moment the
life and character of this son who is
lost to us, but the influence of whose