Obit: Kuenzli, Otto (1878 - 1941)
Contact:  Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kuenzli, Zindel, Blanks, Von Gadi, Von Goddie

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) Thurs., 6 March 1941

Kuenzli, Otto (19 June 1878 - 25 Feb. 1941)

Otto Kuenzli, the husband of Elizabeth (Zindel) Kuenzli, formerly of Neillsville, passed away unexpectedly last week Tuesday in a café at Janesville, Wisconsin. Funeral services were held Friday.

Mr. Kuenzli was 62 years of age. He formerly was district attorney of Jefferson County. He had been a practicing lawyer for nearly 35 years, at one time being a law partner of the late United States Senator John J. Blaine.

The departed was born in Milwaukee, June 19, 1878, the son of Sam Kuenzli, a former postmaster of Milwaukee, and Freda Von Gadi Kuenzli, a relative of the composer of music, Neels Von Goddie.

At the age of eight, the father of Otto died and while still a child he assisted in his maintenance by acting as messenger and ?boy.

He was graduated from Milwaukee high school in 1896, also receiving his appointment as corporal in Company H, 4th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, organized for the Spanish American War. He received an honorable discharge in 1899 and then took a preparatory course at the University of Wisconsin, later graduating from the law course.

On February 16, 1918, he was married to Elizabeth Zindel in Chicago, the late Governor Honor officiating. In 1926, Mr. and Mrs. Kuenzli moved to Jefferson, living for 12 years at 372 Western Avenue. Three years ago they moved to their present home on Blaine Avenue. His office was located at 29 West Milwaukee Street, where he held court as justice of the peace.

In 1935, Mr. Kuenzli suffered a cerebral hemorrhage from which he never fully recovered. He was well learned in his profession, having tried some important cases in Supreme Court. Fond of good literature, he had acquired one of the largest private libraries in Southern Wisconsin.

He is survived by his wife, a brother, Fred, Chicago; and a sister, Olga Blanks, Los Angles. Mrs. Kuenzli was a nurse, practicing her profession in Neillsville several years ago, her husband visiting here occasionally.