Raymond "Ray" Benjamin Gagstetter

Ray Gagstetter

Ray Gagstetter, 54, was fatally injured about 8:45 Tuesday evening in front of the Wolfe Buick Co. garage when the steel crank handle on the wrecker slipped out of control and struck him on the head. He died at the Spencer Hospital at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.

He with the proprietor, Bennie Wolfe, had just returned from three miles south of Lusk from where they pulled the car of Lawrence Williams, Denver, who had missed the curve there. Mr. Gagstetter was letting the front of the towed car down manually with the heavy crank on the left side of the wrecker. Mr. Wolfe was on the other side of the wrecker and did not see the accident, nor did anyone else. However, he heard the release of the winch and upon investigating found Mr. Gagstetter lying on the pavement.

The blow crashed through the skull just above the right eye. The injured man was taken to the Spencer Hospital where emergency surgery was performed but little hope given for his life. His brother-in-law, Walter Schnorenberg, gave a blood transfusion. Mr. Gagstetter never regained consciousness.

Funeral services are being held from the Peet Mortuary Friday afternoon at 2:00 with Clyde Spaulding, Pastor of the Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in the Lusk Cemetery.

Raymond Benjamin Gagstetter was born Sept. 10, 1900 at Sublette, Ill., the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Gagstetter. About eight years later the family moved to Philip, S.D. for 18 months and then on to Wyoming to homestead south of Van Tasssell in 1910.

Mr. Gagstetter remained on the ranch until 1945, in later years operating the ranch for his parents who lived with him. His mother died in 1943. In 1945 he and his father moved to Lusk where Ray was employed at several garages and service stations. He was somewhat crippled as a boy of nine when he fell from a ladder up against a barn, but despite this handicap was a tireless worker at any job.

Surviving besides his father, ar a brother, Raliegh Gagstetter, and a sister, Mrs. Walter Schnoreberg. both of Lusk. Ray never married.

Lusk Free Lance
June 9, 1955
Funeral Services held for the Late Raymond B. Gagstetter Friday from Peet Chapel; Burial in Lusk Cemetery

Concluding services were held for the late Raymond B. Gagstetter at 2:00 o'clock Friday afternoon from the chapel of the Peet Funeral Home with Clyde Spaulding of the Church of Christ officiating.

During the services, two selections, "Going Down the Valley" and "Beautiful Isle" were sung by Mr. and Mrs. Dave Wood and Mr. and Mrs. Al Davenport. Mrs. Clyde Spaulding accompanied them at the chapel organ.

Interment was made in the family plot in the Lusk Cemetery with Ralph McKelvey, Ben Wolfe, Vernon Peterson, John Hammond, William Immesoete, and Lawrence Adams serving as casketbearers.

Raymond Benjamin Gagstetter was born at Sublette, Illinois on September 10, 1900, and passed away at the Spencer Hospital at 3:30 a.m., June 1st, at the Spencer Hospital where he had been taken to receive treatment for injuries received in a mishap that occurred while he was operating the hoist mechanism of the Wolfe Buick company wrecker. The accident had happened at 8:45 Tuesday evening on Third Street in front of the company's used car and farm machinery lot.

The deceased was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Mall) Gagstetter and had attained the age of 54 years 7 months, and 21 days.

He started school at Sublette, Ill., and at the age of eight the family moved to Phillip, South Dakota. They stayed there for eighteen months; then came to Wyoming in March of 1910 where his father homesteaded four miles south of Van Tassell. He then finished his schooling at the rural school.

Ray remained on the home ranch until 1945, in later years operating the ranch for his parents who lived with him. In 1945 he and his father moved to Lusk where Ray was employed at several garages and service stations. He was somewhat crippled as a boy of nine when he fell from a ladder on top of a barn, but despite this handicap was a tireless worker at any job.

His mother preceded him death on June 23, 1943. He leaves to mourn his passing his 90 year old father, Samuel Gagstetter, one brother Rolland Gagstetter, one sister, Mrs. Walter Schnorenberg all of Lusk, several nephews and nieces, besides a host of other relatives and friends.

The Lusk Herald
June 9, 1955
Services Held for Ray Gagstetter

Funeral services for Raymond Benjamin Gagstetter, who was fatally injured May 31, were held from the Peet Mortuary Friday afternoon at 2:00 with Clyde Spaulding, pastor of the Church of Christ officiating.

Pallbearers were Ben Wolfe, Vernon Peterson, John Hammond, Lawrence Adams, Wm. Immesoete and Ralph McKelvey. Music was provided by a quartet composed of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Wood and Mrs. and Mrs. Al Davenport, singing "Going down the Valley," and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere." Mrs. Spaulding was organist.

Raymond Benjamin Gagstetter was born at Sublette, Ill. September 10, 1900, the son of Samual and Elizabeth (Mall) Gagstetter. He was baptized in the Union Church there.

He started school at Sublette and when he was eight the family moved to Phillip, S.D. They stayed there for 18 months, then came to Wyoming in March of 1910 where his father homesteaded four miles south of Van Tassell. He then finished his school at the rural school.

He remained on the home ranch until 1945, in later years operating the ranch for his parents who lived with him. In 1945 he and his father moved to Lusk where Ray was employed at several garages and service stations. He was somewhat crippled as a boy of nine when he fell from a ladder on top of a barn, but despite this handicap was a tireless worker at any job.

His mother died June 23, 1943. Surviving are his father, one brother, R.S. Gagstetter, and one sister, Mrs. Walter Schnorenberg.

Out of town relatives who attended the funeral were: Mrs. Charles Whitebread, Amboy, Ill.; Miss Alice Hicks, Sublette, Ill.; Mrs. Fred Kurth and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Kurth, Ashton, Ill.

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