Obituaries:

The original "Strangler" Lewis (Evan Lewis) died in Dodgeville, Wisconsin on November 3, 1919.  Lewis was World Heavyweight Champion in the catch-as-catch-can style.

The first ever chairman of the Wisconsin State Athletic Commission and initial president of the National Boxing Association, Walter H. Liginger died on July 18, 1931 in Milwaukee at the age of 70.  Linginger was a longtime sports figure, having served on Olympic Games committees going back to 1904.  He was originally appointed to the Wisconsin Athletic Commission in 1913.

Madison, Wisconsin wrestling promoter Joseph Caravello died on April 24, 1933 at 32 years of age.  He was surived by his wife and four children.

Former American Heavyweight catch-as-catch-can wrestling champion Fred Beell (Friedrich A. Beell), a police officer, was shot in the head on August 5, 1933 in Marshfield. Wisconsin.  He was 57.

39 year old wrestler Curtis "Spike" Peterson suffered a fractured neck on Friday, May 25, 1951 during a match with Sam Abraham of Springfield, Illinois in RIchland Center.  Peterson passed away on Monday, May 28.  A popular grappler, Peterson was born in Mt. Horeb, according to his obituary, and lived in Madison, Wisconsin.  He was survived by two brothers.

Longtime wrestler Markus "Mark" Hoesly died on September 1, 1960 of a heart attack in Monroe, Wisconsin.  Born on June 4, 1909 in Oneco Township, Illinois, Hoesly was a talented athlete in his youth, winning Chicago City and Illinois State amateur titles.  He was reportedly an Olympic candidate during the 1930s.  According to his obituary, he wrestled in upward of 40 different countries, and in 1939, married Marie Blumer, member of the 1948 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics team.  In his later years, Hoesly was a farmer in the Monroe area.  He was 51 years of age.

Having replaced Walter Liginger as Wisconsin State Athletic Commission Secretary in 1931, Albert Goetter was a well known member of the organization for years.  He passed away in Milwaukee on Monday, January 4, 1965 at the age of 85.  Goetter was also a boxing promoter.

Ed "Strangler" Lewis, a name synonomous with professional wrestling for decades, passed away on August 7, 1966 in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  He was 76 years of age.

Known as Jack Allen or Mel Dove, wrestler Jack Altinger died on September 28, 1966 in San Diego.  A product of Wisconsin, Altinger was the nephew of grappler Fred Von Schacht (Frank Altinger).

Former Milwaukee wrestling promoter Johnny Heim (John A. Heim) died at the age of 67 on Wednesday, January 31, 1968.  He reportedly retired about five years earlier and had been involved in the grappling business since 1927.

Peter H. Schumacher, a member of the Wisconsin State Athletic Commission from 1943 to 1948, prior to it becoming the Wisconsin State Athletic Examining Board, died on Wednesday, January 1, 1969 in Milwaukee.  Schumacher was 72.

Born in Germany and a resident of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Alfred "Dauber" Jaeger died on Tuesday, February 25, 1969 in Acapulco, Mexico, where he was vacationing.  Jaeger, 76, was a longtime member of the Wisconsin State Athletic Commission and served as a referee for upwards of 45 years.  He was also a professional boxer in the lightweight class.

Regional and national wrestling champion Gordon W. Hessel died on August 9, 1992 in Milwaukee.  Hessel was born on July 27, 1915.

Jack Wilson of Milwaukee, who wrestled under a variety of names, died in Phoenix on March 13, 2001.  He was 82.

The popular "Sailor" Art Thomas (Arthur Thomas) died on Thursday, March 20, 2003 in Fitchburg, Wisconsin.  Thomas was 79 years of age.

Wrestling promoter JoAnne L. Czarnecki died on November 25, 2003 in Milwaukee.  She was 77 years of age.  Daughter of promoter Henry Tolle, she took over after her father's retirement in 1953.


Wisconsin Wrestling Titles:


Wisconsin Wrestling Results:

Milwaukee Wrestling Results - 1946

Milwaukee Wrestling Results - 1947