Obit: Ziehlsdorf, Rev. A. F. (1869 - 1945)

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Surnames: ZIEHLSDORF OELRICH WACHHOLZ KRUEGER ZUEHLKE ZEMPLE HOLBEIN

----Sources: Marathon County Register (Unity, Clark Co. Wis.) 01/01/1946

Ziehlsdorf, Rev. A. F. (1869 - 1945)

Rev. Ziehlsdorf Dies At Home Monday

The Rev. A. F. Ziehlsdorf, aged 76 years, pastor of the St. John’s Lutheran church in the town of Brighton for 18 years, and a resident of Neillsville since his resignation in February 1942 died Monday at his home in Neillsville Monday, the result of a stroke suffered Sunday while he and his wife were walking to church. This Thursday noon at the Georgas Funeral Home in Neillsville, the Rev. John Brundt of Marshfield conducted funeral services for members of the family, and at 12:30 o’clock the body was taken to St. John Lutheran church in Neillsville, where funeral services were held at 2 o’clock with the Rev. William A. Baumann in charge. Internment will be made in the St. John Lutheran cemetery in the town of Brighton.

The Rev. A. F. Ziehlsdorf was born Dec. 26, 1869, in the town of Lebanon, Waupaca county. He moved with his parents to the town of Stettin, Marathon county, at the age of five, and seven years later to the town of Otter Creek, Eau Claire county where he received his early education. He entered Concordia College in 1894 and was graduated in 1900. That same year he was ordained and installed as pastor of St. John’s Lutheran church at Mountain Lake, Minn., where he served for four years. In March of 1898 he was called to Swanville, Minn., where he served for eight years. In 1912 he was called by St. John Lutheran church two miles north of Spencer, staying there for 18 years, after which he resigned his pastorate and lived with his daughter, Mrs. Alfred Oelrich at Spencer for a year following his resignation. He then accepted a call from St. Paul Lutheran church at Charlotte Hall, Md., where he served until his resignation in February of 1942, because of ill health. Shortly after his resignation he moved to Neillsville and purchased the home where he resided until his death.

The Rev. Mr. Ziehlsdorf’s first marriage was to Minna Mathilda Wachholz of Westfield June 27, 1901. She died Feb. 4, 1925. He married Magdalena Krueger at North Spencer Oct. 13, 1929. Surviving are his wife and three children, Gerhard Ziehlsdorf and Mrs. Alfred Oelrich, both of Spencer, and Mrs. George Zuehlke of Loyal. He is also survived by six grandchildren; three brothers, Carl, Fred and William, all of Augusta, and by two sisters, Mrs. Ed Zemple of Augusta and Mrs. Alma Holbein of Omaha, Neb. Two sisters, Mary and Margaret preceded him in death.