Obit: Philippi, Michael Matthew (1882 - 1937)

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Surnames: Philippi, Toeller, Markham, Frane

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 04/01/1937

Philippi, Michael Matthew (9 July 1882 - 28 Mar. 1937)

Michael M. Philippi of Marshfield, a native of the town of Green Grove and a former resident of the city of Colby, died at the Marshfield hospital Sunday night at the age of 54 years, a heart attack being the cause of his death. Funeral services are being held this Thursday morning at the Sacred Heart Catholic church at Marshfield, Rev. H. P. Toeller officiating, and internment will be made in the Catholic cemetery at Colby.

Sunday, the deceased with his wife and small son was visiting relatives in Colby, and, on his return, while he was driving over a flooded portion of the highway near Mannville, he suffered a severe fright when a passing car showered his windshield with water, destroying his view. Fear that he would crash into a car stalled on the roadway ahead added to the shock. Mrs. Philippi assisted him into the rear of the car and rushed to the Marshfield hospital. While she was summoning aid, Mr. Philippi, with the help of his son, age eight, tried to climb the hospital steps but collapsed. A short time later, he died in the hospital.

Michael Matthew Philippi was born in the town of Green Grove, Clark county, on July 9, 1882, and when he was about one year of age, moved with his parents to Colby, where he resided until he came to this city in 1911. He was graduated from the Colby, Wis. High school in 1899, and for two years, taught school. He also took a course in the American School of Technology.

During his school vacations and until 1915, when he entered the railway mail service, Mr. Philippi was engaged in carpenter work. During his first year in the mail service, he was a substitute clerk on the Soo Line between Chicago and Minneapolis. Since then he has served as clerk on the Northwestern railway between Sheboygan and Merrillan, Eland and Merrillan, Eland and Marshfield, and Marshfield and Fond du Lac. He was engaged on the last named run since 1920.

Mr. Philippi was married to Miss Bessie Jewell Markham, of Augusta on May 3, 1911, by the Rev. H. P. Toeller, now pastor of the Sacred Heart church at Marshfield.

Fraternally he was affiliated with the John Eisen council, Knights of Columbus, of which he was a charter member; the Colby court, Catholic Order of Foresters; Marshfield camp of Modern Woodmen of America; and the Railroad Mail association.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, Patrick and Joseph, two sisters, Kathryn Philippi and Mrs. L. W. Frane of Colby, and one brother, John Philippi of Lake Villa, Ill. His parents, two sisters and three brothers preceded him in death.