Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1915 — ENDS LIFE WITH SHOTGUN. [ARTICLE]

ENDS LIFE WITH SHOTGUN.

Suicide of Former Wheat Held Citizen Last Week Near Knox, Starke County, Louis Funk, a son of B. F.■ Funk, a former well known citizen of Wheatfieiil tp., committed suicide on Wednesday of last week at his home near Knox. Starke county, bv shooting himself through the heart with a shotgun, The Funk family, resided for several years near Wheatfleld, Jasper county, and were highly respected. One sister of deceased. Mrs. Harry Remley, stilt resides in Wheatfield. The following account Of the sad affair is taken from the Starke County Democrat:

Preferring death to long suffering from certain ailments which he believed incurable, Lewis B. Funk, a well known young Center township farmer, shot and instantly killed himself with a shotgun at 3:10 o’clock last Wednesday afternoon. The fatal shooting occurred under an oak tree on the Mahlon J. Hartzler farm, about six miles southwest of this city—which is being farmed by Mr. Funk's mother-in-law, Mrs. Rebecca Colwell and hep son. Cecil Colwell and in plain view of a number of people. Mrs. Colwell and sons, Cecil and Noland, and two farm hands, Jesse Oxley anti Grey O. Lee. wore aII w ceding on ions in th o sa me field in which the tragedy occurred, and the former was working at a distance of only about 300 feet from tier son-in-law when the fatal shot was fired. All of them heard the report of the gun, and looking in Mr. Funk V direction, saw him drop front a kneeling position to the ground. They all l ushed to his side, only to find that the gun had done its work, and the news of the tragedy was then telephoned to County Coroner Thomas C. liite in this city.

Coroner Hite immediately repaired to the Hartzler farm and after a careful examination of the body on the spot of the shooting the .same was removed to the Funk home on the Win. Hammersdey farm, about a mile east on the same road. The coroner's report shows that Mr. Funk met death at his own hands and the contents of two scaled letters, addressed to his wife arid found in his clothes, substantiate this verdict. In these letters the unfortunate man depondently refers to his continued poor health, mentioning particularly his failing Oye sight and the terrible pains in his stomach, and concludes by saying that he “does not want to stiJEer ariy longer.” In tile letters he also bids an affectionate farewell to his wife and babies and leaves a number of suggestions relative to his funeral and the future of his family. In one of the letters he requests that his watch and gun he kept for Loyde, his little 3-year-old son. The evidence of Mrs. Colwell and other witnesses examined at the inquest discloses that Mr. Funk came to the Colwell home at about 9:30 Wednesday morning. He carried his gun under his arm and stated that he was out hunting for a rabbit. All of the witnesses say that he appeared to be laboring under a terrible nervous strain. At about 10 o’clock he accompanied Cecil Colwell on a drive to the river to see about some hay, leaving the gun at the house and both returned in time for dinner. Mrs. Colwell requested him to lie down for a rest, but. instead he picked up his gun and said that he was going after a squirrel. He accompanied the folks to the field and after a brief talk with some of the boys started for the spot where the shooting occurred. The coroner’s findings show that the entire load from a 12guage shell entered his left breast and penetrated the body. The. gun was discharged by placing the stock against a wire fence and pushing the trigger with a forked stick which was found in his hand.

Lewis B. Punk, the youngest son of Benjamin anrl Mary Punk, was born in Ohio, Dee. 3, 188), and died at the age of 33 years, 7 months and 18 days. He came to Starke county with his parents several years ago and lived with them on a farm near Toto until his marriage to Bessie B. Colwell on May 20. 1 908, and then started farming for himself. By hard work and honest endeavor Mr. Punk soon became one of the leading young farmers of the neighborhood and he was held in high esteem by hundreds of friends. In recent years, however, continued poor health brought on many financial reverses, and these conditions, together with his physical suffering, doubtless caused him to dispair. He leaves surviving him the heartbroken wife; three little children: Pansy, age 7, Lucile, age 5, and Loyde, age 3 ; his parents who now reside near Inwood, Irid.; one brother, John Punk, of Plymouth, and five sisters: Mrs. A. W. Mech ling of Montana, Mrs. C. X. Biteman of Lafayette, 0.. Mrs. H. E. Remley of Wheatfield, Ind., and Mrs. Theo. Dierks and Mrs. Beverly Gilbert of San Francisco, Cal. Short funeral services, in charge of Rev. ,1. A. J. Tannehill, were conducted at the home Friday afternoon and interment was made in Round Lake cemetery. The deceased was insured in the Reserve Loan Life Insurance Co. for $2,500, payable to his wife.