Obit: Bruckschlager, Harry Donald (1928 - 2005)

Contact:  Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Bruckschlager, Mitchell, Bruchert, Banfield, Rohland, Anderson, Lane, Goessl, Lofgren, Brucks

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) ue, Aug 9, 2005

Bruckschlager, Harry Donald (7 Sept. 1928 - 8 Aug. 2005)

WITHEE -Harry Bruckschlager, 76, Withee, beloved husband of Laurie, died at his home in the township of Hixon, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2005, after a short but aggressive bout with cancer, with the loving care of his family and the staff of Ministry Home Hospice Care of Marshfield.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated with his stepson, the Rev. Darell J. Mitchell, officiating at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, 2005, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Owen, Wis. Harry's eight grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. Burial will be in the family plot in Riverside Cemetery in Withee.

Visitation with family and friends will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, at the Maurina Funeral Home in Owen, with a parish and Knights of Columbus prayer service at 7 p.m.

Harry Donald Bruckschlager was born Sept. 7, 1928, on the home farm, the youngest of three sons of Edward and Elsie (Bruchert) Bruckschlager. Harry received his early education at the former French Town School and was a 1946 graduate of Withee High School. After graduation he farmed the family farm. On Dec. 7, 1974, Harry and Laurie Banfield Mitchell were united in marriage at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Owen and they continued farming until selling the farm in 1984. He then was employed at the Clark County Health Care Center in Owen from 1984 to 1993 as a security guard and maintenance until retiring. Harry also served as sexton of Riverside Cemetery from 1987 until Memorial Day 2005.

In his early farming days, Harry was active in NFO (National Farm Organization) and was vice president of the Clark County branch, and the ASCS (Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service) measuring feed grain acreage and soil sampling.

Harry was an active league bowler for Withee Oil Company and Owen-Curtiss Bank teams, He was an active member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church where he served as usher, Marian Council of Knights of Columbus and the Holy Name Society. His greatest joy was being part of the Holy Rosary Church Choir and playing his saxophone with the Holy Rosary Polka Band. He was also a member of the original "Diamondaires" Polka Band. Harry dearly loved his family and wife of over 30 years, Laurie Bruckschlager of Withee; his stepchildren, which he claimed as his own, Harry "Mitch" (Gloria) Mitchell of Owen, Sheryl "Sheri" (Tom) Rohland of Withee, Gary (Tammy) Mitchell of Withee and the Rev. Darell Mitchell of Yakima, Wash.; eight grandchildren, Jessica (John) Anderson of Alma Center, Jason (Rhonda) Mitchell of Beaver Dam, Jamie (Al) Lane of Manawa, Jalayne (Mark) Goessl of Withee, Morgan Mitchell of Owen, Julia (Dan) Lofgren of Hudson, Taryan Mitchell of Withee, and Matthew Rohland of Louisiana; nine great-grandchildren; and one brother, Walter (Leona) Brucks of Las Vegas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother Lester Bruckschlager, on June 30, 1974.

A memorial will be designated in Harry's name at a later date.

Maurina/Community Funeral Home assisted the family.