Surnames: HOLTZ BARSNESS ALLEN BEY BRICKHEIMER BICKEL HARTNAGLE

----Source: Rasmussen Family Scrapbook

----Source: #2 Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 26 Apr. 1945

Holtz, Ernest F. (Oct 1895 - 21 Apr 1945)

Death came suddenly to Ernest F. Holtz of Neillsville, Clark County, Wis., last Saturday, April 21, 1945, as he was driving on North Grand Av., about 5:30 p.m. As he drove north across the Grand Av. Bridge, persons on the street noticed the car going at an accelerating rate of speed, and as it neared the intersection of Grand Av. And West 10th St., it swerved to the left, side-swiping a water hydrant, and came to a sudden stop as it struck a wire fence. Observers who hurried to the scene found that Ernest Holtz, the driver, had died at the wheel, his sudden death being due to heart disease.

Mr. Holtz was 49 years of age. He was the son of the late August and Augusta Holtz, and was born in Oct. 1895, at Rock Prairie, Wis. At the age of four years he came with his parents to Clark County, and has lived for a number of years in the town of Pine Valley, just east of Neillsville. As a young man he was employed on farms in this area. He was a veteran of World War I, having served 22 months with the U. S. Army, and was a holder of the Purple Heart. He was a member of the American Legion.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 24, at Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church, preceded by brief services at the Juster Funeral Home. The Rev. N. J. Dechant was the officiating pastor. Burial was in the Neillsville Cemetery. Military rites were in charge of the Otto A. Haugen American Legion Post, which furnished the firing squad. The pallbearers, also from the Legion, were William Schroeder, Otto Kutchera, Nick Sydorowicz, Herbert Bardeleben, Carl Hoffman and Leo Korth.

Mr. Holtz is survived by his wife, the former Evelyn Barsness, and by six children: Gordon, who is with the U. S. Army in Europe; Geraldine of Sturgeon Bay, and Viola, Joyce, Shirley and Gary at home. One son died in infancy. Also, surviving are a brother and five sisters: Walter Holtz, and Martha, Mrs. LeRoy Allen, Neillsville; Emma, Mrs. William Bey and Ella, Mrs. Leo Brickheimer, Marshfield; Minnie, Mrs. H. G. Bickel, Milwaukee; Hilda, Mrs. Elmer Hartnagle, Independence, Wis. One brother is deceased. His mother died in Oct. 1942 and his father in Feb. 1944.