Obit: Koch, Charles (1874 - 1911)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: KOCH SCHMIRLER PIEHL

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 12/14/1911

Koch, Charles (6 JUL 1874 - 9 DEC 1911)

Charles Koch of Green Lake, Wis., who was visiting his mother, brother and other relatives in the town of Frankfort, Marathon Co., Wis., accidentally fell down the cellar stairs at Peter Christiansen’s place, Friday evening, Dec. 8th, at about 5 o’clock, and received injuries that caused his death at 5 o’clock the next morning. He was on is way from his mother’s home to Joe Schmirler’s home and stopped in at Pete’s place to see his sister-in-law, Clara Schmirler, and as he started out took the wrong door and fell head first into the cellar, striking the steps about half down, crushing his skull on the left side back of the ear. He was unconscious when picked up and remained so until death came to his relief.

He was born in Kewaskum, Washington Co., Wis., on July 6th, 1874. He came to the town of Frankfort to reside in the spring of 1900, and on Nov. 19th, the same years, was married to Miss Martha Schmirler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Schmirler. He resided in the town, part of the time operating a cheese factory, until the year 1910, when he moved to Green Lake, where he was manager of the golf links.

Mrs. Koch was at the depot in Green Lake purchasing a ticket for Appleton, when she received the message of her husband’s accident. She had intended to visit relatives in Appleton a few days and then join her husband at Edgar.

Besides his widow, he leaves to mourn his sad death, his mother, Mrs. Wm. Koch of Frankfort; 4 brothers, August of Frankfort, Adolph of Milwaukee, Alvin of Grand Rapids, Willie of Athens; and one sister, Mrs. Ella Piehl of Edgar.

The funeral services were held from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wein, Monday afternoon, at 2 o’clock, Rev. Karl Schmalz officiating.

Those from abroad who attended the funeral were, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Koch of Milwaukee; Alvin Koch of Grand Rapids; J.W. Schmirler of Appleton; Mrs. Val Mamer and Geo. Schmirler of Bruno, Sask., Canada, and George Mancer of Clintonville.