Retired Appleton teachers killed in car crash
By John Lee
Post-Crescent staff writer
APPLETON — Two retired Appleton teachers who died in a traffic crash Monday are being remembered as men who would help friends and entertain them at the Christmas tree farm they owned together.
Donald Laedtke, 67, who retired in 1994, and his passenger, 63-year-old Myron W. Jackson, who retired in 1997, were killed in a traffic accident Monday morning in the Town of Center.
The Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department said Linda Duffeck, 43, Kewaunee, was headed west on County O when she failed to stop at County A, striking Laedtke’s vehicle. Duffeck also was pronounced dead at the scene.
Coroner Ruth Wulgaert said Tuesday that all three died of multiple traumatic injuries. Autopsies were done in Madison.
Sheriff’s Capt. Michael Jobe said Duffeck had been scheduled to pick up her daughter, who had just given birth at St. Elizabeth Hospital, at 10 a.m. Monday. At 3:43 p.m. Outagamie County received an “attempt to locate” teletype from the Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department after Duffeck’s family called police.
“I don’t know what she was doing, going west on County O at A, because that would be way out of her way,” Jobe said.
Friends of Laedtke and Jackson said they were returning from the Christmas tree farm they owned between Clintonville and Shawano.
Retired teacher Pat O’Reilly said the two were “wonderful men, great guys.”
Laedtke was a “good man and very dedicated to his family,” and “Myron always had a kind word for everyone,” said Dale Jepson, chorus director at Madison Middle School where the two men taught. Laedtke also taught at Appleton West High School.
“Myron was one of the kindest people I ever knew. He was always ready to lend a hand,” Jepson said. Even though he taught science, Jackson “loved to play the banjo and loved to sing.”
Sherwin “Pinky” Fuerbringer, who taught math and physical education at Madison, remembered the group’s “Culture Club” that met monthly for sheepshead games.
A couple times a year, a large group would spend a weekend of intense card playing at the cabin at the tree farm.
Fuerbringer and his wife joined Laedtke and his wife at several University of Wisconsin games when the Laedtkes’ son was a student at Madison, and he also remembers New Year’s Eves the group spent together.
In an e-mail to The Post-Crescent, Peggy Saindon of Seymour wrote that Laedtke and Jackson “were symbols of Christmas for many Appleton area residents, and especially for members of the Appleton Area School District. For many years, Don and Myron welcomed the public to their beautiful Christmas tree farm.
“The ‘cut your own tree’ weekends included a bonfire, free hot cocoa, hayrides and wonderful memories for our family and countless others. This Christmas will be poorer for the loss of these two fine men.”
Fuerbringer planted trees from Jackson when he retired and built a home in Sherwood, and Jepson said he also has trees from the two growing in his yard.
“Within seconds these lives are gone, and they were such good lives,” Jepson said. “It shows you how fragile life is. The trees are more special to me than ever today.”
John Lee can be reached at 920-993-1000, ext. 362, or by e-mail at jlee@postcrescent.com
that's so sad too. I'm sorry for your loss Shannon.