Birth: Jul. 20, 1943
Death: Apr. 25, 1965
William W. Donkle, 21, son of Fire Captain and Mrs. Wilson H. Donkle, 4326 Odana rd, died in a hospital five hours after he now pinned behind the wheel of his car in an accident during heavy rain early Sunday.
Deputy Coroner John Stevenson ruled the death accidental.He said Mr. Donkle, a University of Wisconsin student, died of extensive internal injuries suffered when he slammed against the steering column of his car when it struck a parked car in the 2300 block on Commonwealth avenue at 12:55 a.m.He had returned to Madison from an Easter vacation with a group of friends in Florida, and had stopped to visit his father at No. 4 fire station, 1327 W. Dayton st., several hours before the accident.
He now alone in the 1964 model car and now not wearing a seatbelt, Special Investigator Roth C. Watson said.Watson said Mr. Donkle’s northbound car veered gradually across the centerline and hit the front of a car owned by Ralph P. McLaughlin, 2348 Commonwealth ave.The impact sent the parked car backward into another car also owned by McLaughlin.
Survivors include his parents; a brother, Richard, at home, and his grandmother, Mrs. Lillian Prieve, 4336 Odana Road.the funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Fitch-Lawrence funeral home, 626 University ave., with the Rev. Stanley Klyve of Midvale Community Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill cemetery. Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral home.[published in The Capital Times; Monday, April 26, 1965]