Obit: Wegner, Fred (1853 - 1935)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Wegner, Euker, Schultz, Shummel, Raine, haugen, Wirm, Buth, Grinde, Fitsch, Tragsdorf, Dux, Terrel, Zimmerman, Fradenberg, Gilloy, Gore

----Sources: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 6 Sept. 1935

Wegner, Fred (7 June 1853 - 9 Sept. 1935)

Monday morning at 5:30 a.m., Sept. 9, Fred Wegner was called to his eternal rest. Mr. Wegner passed away at his home in West Pine Valley where he had lived for the past 62 years. He had always been in very good health, for a man of his age, until about last May or June, when he began to fall in strength. Everything was done to help him, and he was taken to Neillsville hospital for medical treatment, but to no avail. He was brought back to his home Saturday afternoon where he continued to grow weaker and weaker until the angel of death called him to the great beyond.

Mr. Wegner was born in Trepdow Pommern, Germany, June 7, 1853, to Carl and Louise Wegner, being the oldest of seven children. At the age of 20 years he came to America with his parents. On April 7, 1877, he was married to Minnie Euker. To this union eight children were born: Martha, Mrs. Wm. Schultz, Lizzie, Mrs. James Shummel; Ben Wegner; Clara, Mrs. Clyde Raine; Anna, Mrs. Everett Raine; Robert Wegner; Albert Wegner; and Helen, Mrs. Arthur Haugen. One sister, Mrs. Webster Wirm, fourteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, all living in Neillsville, survive him. Beside these, a host of relatives and friends remains to mourn a great loss.

His wife preceded him in death nine years ago. Mr. Wegner was one of the old pioneers who endured many hardships, and often said, "I have many hard times, but I have had my good times."

He was a man of fine character and keen intellect, and always stood for the high ideals of life, honest and upright in all his dealings. He was more than a friend, a good pal and advisor to his children, always setting a splendid example for those who followed him. He was very active and took much interest in helping his youngest son, Albert, carrying on the farm work and even through he had lived more than four score and two years, he often remarked, "This is a beautiful world to live in," and with his cheerful disposition, was a comfort to those who came in contact with him.

He was a charter member of the Pine Valley Lutheran Church, and did much towards the building and upkeep of same. The flowers girls were ten grandchildren. The pallbearers were Clyde Raine, Everett Raine, Wm. Schultz, and Arthur J. Haugen, son-in-laws, and Alfred Wegner and Irving Schultz, grandsons.

Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at 1:30 at the home and 2 o’clock at Pine Valley Lutheran Church, Rev. J. Buth officiating.

Relatives who attended the funeral from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. Joe Grinde, Madison; Mrs. Roy Fitch, Madison; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Tragsdorf, Panama; Frank Dux and family, Loyal, Wis.; Mrs. Martha Terrel, Frank Zimmerman, Mrs. Ida Zimmerman and daughter, Alice; Mr. and Mrs. Archie Fradenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Gilloy of Humbird, Wis.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Zimmerman, Fairchild; and Sidney Gore and family, of Alma Center, Wis.

When the morning sun turns the autumn leaves to gold, when nature wakes, its beauty to behold, with a cheery smile and a wave of his hand he wandered into the unknown land.