Obit: Below, Martin F. (1902 - 1995)

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Surnames: BELOW RUHBUSCH GRAUPNER WOODKEY LUEPKE LABARGE BRUESEWITZ EWERT MOEN HOOPS KALKOPF DEERING FOTH KARAU STOUP SCHALLOCK BALL

----Sources: MARSHFIELD NEWS-HERALD (Marshfield, Wood Co. Wis.) Jan. 1995

Below, Martin F. (1 Oct. 1902 - 1 Jan. 1995)

Martin F. Below, 92, Spencer, died Jan. 1, 1995, at Continental Manor Nursing Home in Abbotsford where he had resided for two years and nine days.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. William Ruhbusch officiating. Music will be provided by Isabelle Bruesewitz, organist, for congregational singing.

Burial will be in West Spencer Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Carl Graupner, Roger Woodkey, Vilas Luepke, Ray LaBarge, Arnold Bruesewitz and Arlyn Ewert.

Visitation will be at 4 p.m. today at Community Funeral Home and again on Wednesday until 9 a.m. and then at the church until service time. A family devotion will be conducted at 8:30 tonight at the funeral home.

He was born Oct. 1902, to Fred and Bertha (Luepke) Below in the town of Spencer. He attended public school and parochial school in Spencer.

He married Jennie Moen Nov. 6, 1924, at Salem Lutheran Church at Klondike. They celebrated their golden anniversary in 1984 and their 70th wedding anniversary in 1994.

Before marriage he worked as a carpenter and also with a bridge crew in Athens. After marriage he went on to farming in Veefkind, Clark County. He served several times on the School Board. In 1942 he purchased the Fred Below farm in the town of Spencer. He served three terms on the Town Board.

In 1957 he moved to Spencer where he was employed by Pathfinder until his retirement.

He is survived by three sons, Arnold (Ruth) Below of Marengo, Ill., Laurence Below of Spencer, Gerald Below of LaGrande, N.C., one daughter, June (Lloyd) Hoops of Spencer; one sister, Ella Kalkopf of Milwaukee; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Ernest Below, Herman Below, Carl Below and Ray Below; and six sisters, Freda (Below) Deering, Martha (Below) Foth, Minnie (Below) Karau, Adela (Below) Stoup, Laura (Below) Schallock, and Ruth (Below) Ball.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Memorials may be designated to the different organizations of the church.