Body of the Marathon County “Unknown Soldier” Exhumed for DNA Testing

Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 -- 8:01 AM

On Friday, June 6, 2025, the Marathon County Medical Examiner’s Office, in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories, University of Wisconsin – Madison Missing in Action (MIA) Recovery and Identification Project, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department, Peterson Kraemer Funeral Home, and Schreiner Excavating, completed the exhumation of an unidentified soldier buried at Pine Grove Cemetery in Wausau.

The body of the soldier was originally discovered in 1930, when he had died by suicide in the Rothschild area of Marathon County. He left a note identifying himself as a World War I veteran but left no other identifying information.

Despite efforts at the time to identify him, his name and story remained unknown. He was eventually laid to rest with military honors beneath a headstone marked only “Unknown Soldier.”

The June 6, 2025, exhumation was conducted with great care and respect. Following the recovery, the remains were transferred to a secure facility where forensic specialists will begin DNA analysis.

The goal is to compare the soldier’s genetic profile with national databases to potentially identify a match with a living relative. The process may take several months.

If a match is found, it could finally reunite this unknown soldier with his name, his story, and perhaps most importantly, his family. The identity of the man remains unknown.

However, officials hope that advances in technology may finally help piece together a story long left untold.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.