----Source: WEEKLY CLARION (Dorchester, Clark Co., WI) 06/03/1927

Stelzel, Leopold F. (1856 - 28 May 1927)

Again another pioneer settler has gone to the land from where there is no turning. Our old friend and neighbor, Leopold Stelzel, passed away at the Marshfield Hospital at 5 o'clock p.m. Saturday, May 28th, 1927, after an illness of 10 days.

He was brought home and laid at rest from St. Louis Catholic Church, Wednesday morning, June 1st, Rev. Pitzenberger officiating, Frank Hollmann, August Sauter, henry Jantsch, Rudolph Umlauft, Ed Rauscher and Wm. Hennlich acting as pallbearers and E. J. Fuchsgruber, Funeral Director.

Leopold Ferdinand Stelzel was born in St. Dorcuz, Austria, and was married to Amelia Reddling at Zalko, Tarion, in 1878. Ten children were born to them, 8 living, 5 sons, John, Louis, Edward, Alvin and Martin, and 3 daughters, Ottilia, Marie (Mrs. Fred Reynolds), and Harriet (Mrs. Frank Wanke of Stratford).

About 46 years ago he with his young wife and one child came to the land of the free to find a better home, and settle on a piece of wild land 3 ½ miles east of Dorchester, Clark Co., Wis., and succeeded in making one of the finest farms about here out of it.

When in the 80's the iron mines started at Ironwood, Bessmer, and Hurley, he was there and went down in the shaft and helped send up the first load of ore. They lived at Ironwood several years until he made money enough to do some of the necessary things on his farm here.

He was interested, not only in his farm, but in everything that meant for the welfare of his community and he was town supervisor in 1910 and did his work faithfully and well. He also owned and operated a threshing outfit in this vicinity. All who knew him liked him, both young and old. That's as great a tribute as we can pay anyone - that they accomplished something worthwhile and had the love of those about them.

We join a great host of friends in extending sincerest sympathy to those who are bereaved.

The out of town folks here for the funeral were Mrs. Louis Hadle and son, John, of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. E. Wanke of Marshfield, Mr. and Mrs. F. Wanke of Stratford, Mr. P. Wanke of Athens, Joe Lamer of Heafford, Mike and John Zobrack of Milton, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Daley of Abbotsford, and Mr. and Mrs. F. Rachow of Medford.