Surnames: ZERBEL KRETSCHMER

----Source: HUMBIRD ENTERPRISE (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) 06/30/1917

Zerbel, Richard (19 OCT 1858 - 27 JUN 1917)

The sudden death of Richard Zerbel at his home in this village (Humbird, Clark county, Wis.) early Wednesday morning, was a shock to innumerable friends throughout this section. Mr. Zerbel had retired at about the usual hour the evening previous, and along towards midnight Mrs. Zerbel heard him breathing heavily. She attempted to arouse him, but without avail. Help was summoned at once, and Dr. Moore sent for , his family physician, Dr. Schwarz being out of town. Death ensued shortly after his changed condition was first noticed. The cause of his death was neuralgia of the heart, from which he had suffered for some time. Mr. Zerbel had returned from a trip to Madison on No. 18 Tuesday evening, and was about town in a cheerful mood. He, in company with Robert Linder, left on the night train Monday for a short business trip to Madison, and at that time he was feeling much better than he had for several weeks, and the news of his sudden taking away could hardly be realized by his fellow townsmen Wednesday morning.

Funeral services will be held at his late home in this village on Saturday at 10:00 o'clock, and the remains will be taken to his former home near North Freedom, where church services will be held on Sunday. Burial will be in the family lot in the cemetery near Denzer, Sauk Co. August Zerbel, brother of the deceased, left Wednesday noon to bear the sad tidings to other members of the family living in Sauk Co., and also to make arrangements for the burial.

The deceased was a native of Germany, coming to America with his parents when about six years of age. He was the youngest member of the family, and is survived by three sisters, one living in Madison and two in Sauk Co., and two brothers, August and Herman, both of this village. Mr. Zerbel's parents located in Sauk Co. near the town of Denzer, and until he was sixteen years of age he spent his time there. He early learned the carpenter's trade and worked at it with his brothers for a number of years. On Nov. 23, 1882, he was united in marriage with Miss Julia Kretschmer, who by his death, is left a bereft widow.

After Mr. Zerbel's marriage he took his wife to Sauk Co. to reside on a farm, and later in 1897 bout a farm in Garden Valley, which was their home until about the year 1900, when the place was sold and this village was made their permanent home. For a while he engaged in the mercantile business with B. J. Stallard, and later was associated with James Waters in the sawmill at Spirit Lake. Since returning from Spirit Lake he has devoted his time and efforts to the sale of real estate. Mr. Zerbel erected the brick block in which the store of F. A. Shute is located, in 1904, and has also erected two modern dwelling houses in the village, the last of which he intended to reserve for his home. The other was sold to his brother August, some time ago, and the other brother Herman is at present building a dwelling near to them both. It was the hopes of the three brothers to spend their declining days in comfort as near neighbors, when death intervened.

Expressions of sympathy and sorrow for the death of this prominent citizen are heard on every side, and it si the general feeling that the place he has occupied in our midst will be a difficult one to fill. He was at all times interested in the up-building and betterment of the village and surrounding country, and was ready to help in any undertaking that would promote the general welfare. Mr. Zerbel was 58 years, 8 months and 8 days old at the time of his death.