Obit: Kowalk, William August Frank (1858 - 1935)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: KOWALK HOFFMANN SACHSE QUIST RUCKS BAUMGART LAMONT WILKENING EDER WOLFE SILL PRANGE

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 14 Feb 1935

Kowalk, William August Frank (12 Sept. 1858 - 11 Feb. 1935)

William August Frank Kowalk, one of the early settlers and a prominent farmer of this community, having spent forty years of his life here, passed on to the heavenly goal Monday morning at 5:30, general sepsigda to chronic prostatic disease and apoplexy being the cause of his death. Funeral services will be held at the home at 1:30 p.m. this week Thursday and at the Zion Ev. Lutheran church at 2:00 p.m., Rev. O. Hoffmann officiating, and internment will be made in the Colby cemetery. The pall bearers are Louis Sachse, Chas. Quist, Paul Rucks, Otto Baumgart, Angus Lamont and Henry Wilkening. The flower girls are Beatrice Eder, Marie Baumgart, Helen Baumgart, and Laura Wolfe.

The deceased was born in Zukers, Pommern, Rummelscorg, Germany, Sept. 12, 1858, thus reaching the age of seventy-six years, four months and twenty-nine days. He came to the United States in 1881 and helped build the railroad passing through Colby and later the saw mill at Athens and Park Falls. He settled in Clark county in 1895, and, by diligent work and privations, built a fine farm. He was married to Ernestina Sill in 1889 who died in January 1900. He married Bertha Prange in September, 1900, who survives. Besides his widow, his death is mourned by six children, namely: Fred Kowalk of Colby, Ernest Kowalk of Unity, Geo. Kowalk of Unity, Mrs. Wm. Sachse, of Colby, Otto Kowalk of Colby, and Clara Kowalk, at home.

The deceased was a man of generous impulses and never forgot the hospitable ways of the pioneer. He united sound sense with strong convictions, was a good Christian, a kind and indulgent father and husband and friendly with everybody so his many friends join in extending sympathy to the bereaved family.