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Bio: Barth-Kleinschmidt (Reunion - 1984)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Barth, Kleinschmidt, Frey, Gardner, Rustad, Peterson, Seehafer, Bauman, Garbush, Christiansen, Anderson, Schlinsog, Schmidt, Menke

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/23/1984

Barth-Kleinschmidt (Reunion - 1984)

More than 50 relatives gathered for the annual Barth-Kleinschmidt reunion in Chili on Sunday, August 19.

Among those attending were Elmer and Thelma Frey, Don and Laverna Gardner, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Kleinschmidt and Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Rustad, all of Marshfield; Mr. and Mrs. Silas Kleinschmidt, Mr. and Mrs. Norbert Kleinschmidt, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Seehafer, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Gardner and Darrel and Sandra Seehafer, all of Chili.

They were joined by Aarvin and Arthur Kleinschmidt, Wisconsin Rapids; Alan and Kathy Bauman and boys and Florence Garbush, all of Spencer; Stella Christiansen, Vesper; Gary and Beatrice Kleinschmidt, Wausau; Bob and Lorraine Anderson, Stanley; Ray and Shirley Barth, Ray and Kathleen Schlinsog, Doreen Schmidt and Toni and Todd and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Menke, all of Granton.

Mr. and Mrs. Carrol Rustad and Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Frey are serving as the committee for the 1985 reunion.

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Bio: Hales, Vera - Granton Honored Grandparent (1984)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Hales, Paun, Rowe, Dahl, Hausle

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/30/1984

Vera Hales-Granton Honored Grandparent (1984)

Vera Hales of Granton was named the winner in a contest held this past month to select the Grandparent-Of-The-Year in the Granton area. The contest was sponsored by the Granton FFA Alumni.

Verla was nominated by Renee Paun who calls Mrs. Hales her adopted grandparent.

Sunday, September 9, is the sixth National Grandparents Day and this is also the day of the Granton Fall Festival parade. Verla and Renee will ride in the parade as honored guests.

Renee submitted an essay on why she wanted Mrs. Hales selected as being someone special in her life. She said, “She is a special person because ever since I was three weeks old, she took care of me, loved me, and helped raise me through the ‘important years of my life.’ She showed me how to bake and she sat with me for hours when I was in the hospital. You always see her bringing food to a special event, unasked, spending time with someone who is ill, or just babysitting with children who often call her ‘Grandma,’ she deserves to be honored.”

Verla was born on December 16, 1900, in the Town of York to Walter and Sadie Rowe. She had one brother, Milford. She attended Merry Vale School and then went to the Granton High School for 2 ½ years.

She remembers walking the four miles to high school until the last year when she and her brother rode in a horse and cutter in the winter. They tied their horse in the barn just north of the school. She had to quit school to help at home when illness occurred in the family.

She married Edward Dahl in 1923 and they had two children, Hazel, now of Clintonville, and Alvin, now of Loyal. She has five grandchildren.

In 1954, she married Loren Hales. Today she is a widow, and she has lived in the village of Granton for the past 20 years.

She has been active in the United Methodist Church and a member of its Women’s Society. She also belongs to the Romadka Homemakers and the Senior Citizens. Her hobbies ae embroidery and tatting, and she loves to make quilts and has made one for each of her granddaughters and step-granddaughters. During the summer you will find her out in her flower garden; she always carried a bouquet to church on Sunday.

Bad Days Recalled

The worst thing in life that she has experienced was when she was 10 years old, and her father had his four fingers cut off in the silo filler. Dr. Hausle of Granton came to the farm, laid her father on the kitchen table, put him to sleep and proceeded to operate. Her father made daily trips (by horse) to Granton to have the dressing changed.

Another experience she will never forget is when she was 15 and the family got scarlet fever. They were quarantined for 14 days. After that the whole house was fumigated with formaldehyde. Vera had three-foot braids back then; they made her sit at the foot of the stairs with her hair locked in a stairway so it could be fumigated. Her grandfather, William Rowe, was the health officer and was very strict with rules.

She enjoys good health and is active in her home and community. She writes dozen of letters each month to friends. You often see her at the Memorial Home visiting friends.

She always has a full cookie jar to treat children and is known for making some of the best homemade rolls in the area.

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Obit: Blaskowski, Catherine K. (1904 - 1984)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Blaskowski, Myjak, Kapinos, Counsell, Ratulowski, Long, Kreczmer, Kubicz, Skryzniarz,
Ruiz, Branger, Struensee, Gress, Henseler

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/30/1984

Blaskowski, Catherine K. (14 February 1904 – 21 August 1984)

Catherine K. Blaskowski, 80, of Rt. 4, Neillsville, died in a North Lake, Illinois, hospital on Tuesday, August 21.

The deceased was born on February 14, 1904, in Poland to Clemmons and Mary (Myjak) Kapinos. At the age of four, she moved with her parents to the U.S. and received her education in Chicago schools. She then worked in the Chicago area. On November 14, 1928, she married John Blaskowski in Chicago ceremonies.

In 1949, the family moved to Plainfield where they lived until 1954 when they moved to the Greenwood area to farm. They retired in 1960 and moved to the Town of Lynn. For the past eight years, Mrs. Blaskowski had made her home with a daughter, Joan Counsell. She was a member of St. Mary’s parish and its Parish Counsel of Catholic Women.

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Andrew (Genny) Ratulowski of Chicago, Mrs. James (Theresa) Long of Pocahontas, Illinois, and Mrs. Jack (Joan) Counsell of Neillsville; and four sons, Raymond of Chicago, Stanley of Stratford, Theodore of West Bend and Frederick of Granton. Joining them are three sisters, Mrs. Stephine Kreczmer, Mrs. Walter (Caroline) Kubicz and Mrs. Walter (Frieda) Skryzniarz, all of Chicago; a brother, Albert Kapinos, Chicago; 19 grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1962; two sons, Edward and John; a brother, Joseph; and a sister, Mary.

Funeral services were held on Saturday morning, August 25, from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville with the Rev. Joseph Henseler officiating. Burial was made in the parish cemetery; pallbearers were James Long, Michael Blaskowski, Antonio Ruiz, Keith Branger, Darrell Struensee and Robert Gress. The Gesche Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

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Obit: Bredemann, Robert O. (1907 - 1984)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Bredemann, Feirer, Graf, Helgerson, Voigt, Kohl, Kleinschmidt, Meissner, Dix, Maslowski, Freberg

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/30/1984

Bredemann, Robert O. (12 September 1907 – 23 August 1984)

Robert O. Bredemann, 76, of Rt. 1 Chili, died on Thursday, August 23, in Neillsville Memorial Hospital.

The deceased was born on September 12, 1907, in Lindsey. On June 3, 1933, he married Rose Feirer in Nasonville ceremonies. He was a lifelong resident of the Town of Rock, working as a milk hauler for ten years and as a farmer. He served on rural school boards and the church council.

Surviving him, besides his wife, is a sister, Mrs. Adela Graf of Marshfield, and a brother, Max Bredemann, Burlington. Joining them are eight brothers.

Funeral services were held from Nasonville’s Grace Lutheran Church on Saturday afternoon, August 25, with the Gilbertson Funeral Home of Granton in charge of arrangements. The Rev. Freberg officiated, with burial made in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Donald Helgerson, Clifford Voigt, Duane Kohl, Roy Kleinschmidt, Dennis Bredemann and Chares Bredemann. Music was offered by Arlene Meisner, Helen Dix and Kerry Maslowski.

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Obit: Calkins, Charles (1908 - 1984)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Calkins, Davis, Hauser

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/30/1984

Calkins, Charles (30 September 1908 – 19 August 1984)

Charles Calkins, 75, of Rock Dam died on Sunday, August 19, at Neillsville Memorial Hospital.

The deceased was born in Fairchild on September 30, 1908, to Charles and Minnie (Davis) Calkins. He attended school in Fairchild, graduating from high school there, and then graduated from UW-Superior. On May 25, 1940, he married Helen Hauser.

He was employed by the federal government as a fire fighter at Fort McCoy, Sheboygan, Camp Haven, White Horse Base of the Yukon Territory and Fort Sheridan, Illinois. The couple lived at Twin Lakes until he retired in 1970 when they moved to Rock Dam.

Surviving him, besides his wife, is a son, Charles, of Waukesha, and two grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on August 21 from the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, with burial made in the Fairchild Cemetery.

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Obit: Dietz, Fred (1908 - 1984)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Dietz, Schultz, Vandeberg, Kichuff, Guy, Mesar, Handt, Drescher, Kuehn, Chase, Stokka

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/30/1984

Dietz, Fred (21 January 1908 – 23 August 1984)

Fred Dietz, 75, who farmed in the Town of Grant, died on Thursday evening, August 23, in Neillsville Memorial Home.

The deceased was born on January 21, 1908, in Green County. On August 26, 1932, he married Myra Schultz in Neillsville ceremonies. He farmed all of his life in the Town of Grant. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in the Town of Grant.

Surviving him are three daughters, Mrs. John (Marjorie) Vandeberg and Delores Diez both of Granton, and Violet Dietz of Portage; and six grandchildren. Joining them are two sisters, Loretta Kichuff of Fond du Lac and Betty Guy of Reno, Nevada; and a brother, Emery, Markesan. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1958, a son and a daughter and a brother.

Funeral services were held on Monday morning, August 27, from the Gilbertson Funeral Home in Granton, with the Rev. Maynard Stokka officiating. Burial was made in the Town of Grant Cemetery; pallbearers were Joe Mesar, Everett Handt, Elmer Schultz, Robert Drescher and Wesley Kuehn. Music was offered by Charlotte Drescher and Donna Chase.

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Obit: Gesche, Elmer R. (1912 - 1984)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Gesche, Kado, Hinz, Howard, Voelker, Adomert

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/30/1984

Gesche, Elmer R. (18 February 1912 – 28 August 1984)

The father of Lowell Gesche, who operates the Gesche Funeral Home of Neillsville, died earlier on Tuesday, August 28, The Press learned.

Funeral arrangements were still pending for Elmer R. Gesche of Elmwood at Press time.,

Elmer Gesche, who was in his 70’s, had been ill for the past few weeks and had recently been transferred from an Eau Claire hospital to a nursing home.

And here is his obit, I located to add, from the Dunn County News, Menomonie, WI (Sept. 5, 1984)

Elmer R. Gesche, 73, Elmwood, died Tuesday, Aug. 28 at the Heritage Nursing Home in Elmwood. Funeral services were 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 31 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Elmwood with the Rev. James Adomert officiating. Burial was in St. Michael’s Lutheran Cemetery in Spring Valley.

Elmer Gesche was born Feb. 18, 1912, in the Town of Cady in St. Croix County. After his education, also in the Town of Cady, he farmed with his parents, Richard and Anna (Kado) Gesche. He married Louise Hinz Oct. 16, 1937, in Turtle Lake.

He was a milk hauler for Wisconsin Co-op Dairy for a few years, then worked as a livestock hauler in Elmwood and Spring Valley until 1943. He worked for Elmwood Dairy until his retirement in 1974. He and his wife enjoyed traveling after his retirement.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Lowell R. of Neillsville and LeRoy E. of Roseville, Minn.; a daughter, Lennice (Mrs. Bill) Howard of Niceville, Fla.; two sisters, Mrs. Esther Voelker and Frieda Gesche of Wilson; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.

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Obit: Meredith, Rose S. (1891 - 1984)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Meredith, Flannery, Van Horn, Jenni, Laatch, Humke, Galstad, Forde

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/23/1984

Meredith, Rose S. (12 February 1891 – 18 August 1984)

A former store clerk in Tioga, Rose S. Meredith, died at 93 years of age in Neillsville Memorial Home on Saturday morning, August 18.

The deceased was born on February 12, 1891, in Spencer, Iowa, to William and Mary Ann (Flannery) Meridith. As a small child, she moved with her parents to Kenosha where she received her education. She then worked in Manitowoc and La Crosse as a secretary. She also taught in a high school for many years.

She later worked at the Tioga Store for many years and was well-known to Seif area residents. She also cooked for many years at the Greenwood Schools. After her retirement, she resided with her sister in Greenwood. She never married.

Surviving her is a sister, Ruth, of Greenwood, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Ralph and Maurice; and a sister, Louise.

Funeral services were held on Monday afternoon, August 20, from the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. The Rev. Paul Forde of Calvary Lutheran Church officiated, and burial was made in the Greenwood City Cemetery. Pallbearers were Ellis and Earl Van Horn, Roland Jenni, Jerry Laatch, Tom Meredith and Elmer Humke. Music was offered by Wilfred Galstad and Karen Forde.

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Obit: Rydell, Irene (1910 - 1984)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Rydell, Langley, Wallis, Meyers, Thlan, Mitchell, Montez

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/23/1984

Rydell, Irene (8 January 1910 – 12 August 1984)

Irene Rydell a former resident of Greenwood, died at her St. Paul, Minnesota home on August 12. She had been in ill health for some time; cause of death was congestive heart failure.

Funeral services were held Tuesday August 14 at a Catholic church in St. Paul.

Irene Wallis was born January 8, 1910, in Greenwood to Dean and Alice (Langley) Wallis. She attended Greenwood Schools and was a graduate of Greenwood High School. She was married to John Rydell of St. Paul in 1928 and had resided in St. Paul since. Her husband died in 1972,

Surviving her are her two daughters of St. Paul, Frances Meyers and Marcella Rydell; a son, John Rydell, Jr., St, Paul; 11 grandchildren; a brother, Harry Wallis, Willard; and three sisters, Mrs. Leon Thlan of Baldwin, Mrs. Eleanor Mitchell and Mrs. Elsie Montez, both of St. Paul. Deceased are a daughter; her parents; two brothers, Norman and Donald; and a sister, Lorraine.