Obit: Elmhorst, Henry P. C. (1910 - 2005)
Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Elmhorst, Desens, Daniels, McBride, Hineline, Montgomery, Lemke, Wegner, McElroy, Dupree, Nelson, Whiteft, Capella, Smith, Stover

----Sources: Clark County Press, (Neillsville, WI) April 13, 2005

Elmhorst, Henry P. C.(September 16, 1910 - April 10, 2005)

Henry Elmhorst, age 94, of Neillsville, died Sunday, April 10, at the Memorial Medical Center in Neillsville, Wis.

Henry Paul Carl Elmhorst was born on September 16, 1910 in Rolfe, IA, the son of Henry and Martha (Desens) Elmhorst. After a year they moved to Union Hill, IL. Henry’s parents had moved from Illinois to Iowa to farm, but stayed there only for a short time. It was at that time that Henry joined two older brothers, Walter and Clarence, and three older sisters, Amanda, Dorothy and Emma. Then they moved back to Illinois and farmed there until 1920. Henry was joined by two more brothers, Carl and Eldon and four more sisters, Evelyn, "the twins" Vera and Verna, and Laura Mae. (Two siblings died in infancy). In 1920, the Elmhorst family purchased a farm near Granton in the Town of Fremont. Henry attended a country school on the adjoining property, finished the eighth grade, (Henry never wanted to get too "edjamaceted") and lived at home until his marriage to Dorothy Daniels in 1932. Henry and his new bride and few possessions began "farming on shares." This was in the beginning of "The Great Depression" of the 30s. Henry famed on shares until November of 1945. At that time a farm located in Section 1 of the Town of Pine Valley, came up for sale at an auction. Although Henry was not able to attend the auction that day, the farm was still available a few days later, (which Henry always believed was God’s miraculous provision for such a choice piece of property, even though at that time it was covered with brush and stumps) and arrangements were made to purchase the farm that has become known for the past sixty years as Peaceful Pines. In time, he with his wife Dorothy became the parents of twelve children.

Having made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ in about "43", his passion to share the "good news" of the gospel perhaps surpassed his love for farming. In the late 40s he began Peaceful Pines Sunday School for his family and many of the neighborhood children who did not attend church. Although the Sunday School eventually closed, he still had a burning desire for Peaceful Pines to be a place of ministry for the gospel of Christ. To that end he always had an open door for the down-hearted, the homeless and those who in some cases were the "outcasts" of society. He reveled in hard physical work, clearing land, plowing, planting and then the joy of bringing in the harvest, especially threshing the oats. His enjoyment of the woods and the cooking of maple syrup remain among the fondest memories that we, his family have of our Dad, Henry.

May he rest in peace; Goodbye Dad, we love you.

He is survived by eleven children, Eldred Elmhorst, of Marshfield; Henry (Joan) Elmhorst, of Rudolph; Roy (Sue) Elmhorst, of Iola; William (Virginia) Elmhorst, of Neillsville; Daniel (Joel) Elmhorst, of Neillsville; Rosemary (Ronald) McBride of Granton; Michael (Evangeline) Elmhorst, of Paynesville, MN; Andrew (Linda) Elmhorst of Wisconsin Rapids; Judith Hineline of Neillsville; Paul Elmhorst of Whitehall; and James Elmhorst of Neillsville, Wis.

Henry is also survived by 58 grandchildren; 102 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Evelyn Montgomery, of Boulder, CO; Vera Lemke, of Marshfield; and Laura Mae (Vernon) Wegner, of Edina, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

Henry was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; a son, Timothy; four grandchildren, Anthony Elmhorst, Jesse Elmhorst, Evangeline McElroy and Jane Elmhorst; two great-grandchildren, Dusty Dupree and Daniel Nelson; eight siblings, Amanda Whiteft, Dorothy Capella, Clarence Elmhorst, Walter Elmhorst, Emma Smith, Carl Elmhorst, Eldon Elmhorst and Verna Stover.

Funeral services for Henry will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 13, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville, Wis. Pastor Steven Wentz will officiate, with a message to be provided by Dean Nelson. Music will be provided by Kathy Meshnick, organist. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery. Visitation will be from w0 to 11 a.m., Wednesday at the Gesche Funeral Home.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Henry’s family with funeral arrangements.