Robert MUNK

WAR VETERAN, 37, SHOT TWICE, DIES; BELIEVED SUICIDE

Robert Munk Found in Basement of Home Here After Quarrel With Wife

SHOTGUN WOUNDS FATAL

Coroner Pronounces Case Suicide – No Inquest to Be Held Into Death

Two shotgun wounds in his head, Robert Munt, 37 year old war veteran, was found lying in the basement of h is home at 815 North Minnesota Ave., shortly after 4:45 o’clock this morning. He died at 6:30 in a hospital. The wounds were believed to have been self inflicted.

Neighbors told police that Mr. Munk and his wife had been quarreling since about 7 o’clock last night and the tragedy climaxed a stormy scene in the upstairs rooms of the house.

Wife Sought Help

Indications were that Munk had stood near the furnace in the basement, fired the charge from at 16 gauge pump gun into his head, then walked to a fruit closet about 20 feet away, took two shells from a bag, reloaded the gun, walked back to the scene of the first shot, and fired a second charge into this head from a different angle.

Mrs. Munk told Sheriff John H Johnson that her husband went into the basement a little after 3 o’clock, and soon afterwards shouted up to her where his insurance policies could be found.

Alarmed, she tried to reach neighbors by telephone, but was unsuccessful. Later she heard the roar of the two shots.

Saw Service In War

Her husband had often threatened to take his life, she told the sheriff.

Mr. Munk was born at Dell Rapids February 25, 1895. He lived at Dell Rapids until the time of the World War, when he enlisted and served 22 months with the 147th Field Artillery. He saw much action and was gassed.

After the war he came to Sioux Falls. For the last 10 years he had been employed as receiving clerk at Andrew Kuehn and company.

Besides the widow, two children, Robert Keith, 31/2 and Shirly Mae, 3n months old, survive. Also surviving are a number of relatives living at Dell Rapids.

Coroner Martin Peterson pronounced the death a clear case of suicide and announced that no inquest would be held.

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Robert Munk
Birth 25 Feb 1895
South Dakota, USA
Death 17 Jun 1932 (aged 37)

Funeral Held Sunday for Robert Munk

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon in the Miller Chapel, Sioux Falls, for Robert Munk who died early Friday morning from self inflicted shot gun wounds.

Mr. Munk was the son of Mrs. John Munk of Dell Rapids. He was born 37 years ago, February 25th, 1895, on the farm now occupied by Harley Johnston. He grew to manhood in this vicinity, and for a number of years was employed on the Peter Nesby dray line. When the World War broke out, the deceased was among the first to enlist. He served 22 months with the 147th Field artillery, seeing much action and was gassed. He like so many other World war veterans, who saw so much action, had suffered from the ill effects of this war in one way or another ever since. While in France he was a patient in a hospital several times and of late had been in the Veterans Hospital at Kansas City.

Mr. Munk was married June 16th, 1920, and has made Sioux Falls his home for the last ten years. He has been employed as receiving clerk at the Andrew Kuehn Company.

Surviving are the widow, two children, Robert Keith, 3 ½ and Shirley Mae, 3 months old, his mother, and his aged grandmother, Mrs. J.T. Cook, both of Dell Rapids, six brothers, Will, Harry, Jesse, Fred, Guy, Claude, and sisters, Mrs. Maud Westover of Colman, Mrs. Grace Goddsey, Lincoln, Mrs. Iva Erick, Slayton; Mrs. Hazel Ellis, Sioux Falls and Florence of Dell Rapids.

Rev. W.P. Slocum, pastor of the East Side Methodist Church, officiated at the funeral services. The former soldier was honored with full military rites. Interment was made at Woodlawn cemetery, where a salute was fixed by the American Legion firing squad. The casket was draped in the American Flag.

Dell Rapids Tribune June 23, 1932

Contributed on 10/3/10 by 9katz
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Record #: 78367

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