Obit: Firnstahl, Frank (1857 - 1938)

Contact: History Buffs

Surnames: Firnstahl, Lang, Andrews, Hemmy, Kraus, Loos, Lyons, Steinwand, Wemmers, Adrians, Wendt, Hertz, Brehm, Bier, Johnson, Rouse, Pierce, Fisher, Darton, Duell, Wichman, Foelske, Wickman

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 07/07/1938

Firnstahl, Frank (4 Oct. 1857 - 5 July 1938)

Frank Firnstahl passed away at his home in the city of Colby Tuesday morning and funeral services are to be held this Thursday morning at St. Mary’s Catholic church. Obituary will be printed next week.

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 07/14/1938

Funeral services for Frank Firnstahl, who died of old age complications at the age of eighty-one years, were held at St. Mary’s church Thursday morning, Rev. L. J. Lang officiating, and internment was made in the Colby cemetery. Pall bearers were K. Andrews, A. R. Hemmy, C. Joe Kraus, E. D. Loos, J. E. Lyons and A. M. Steinwand.

The deceased was born in Zanig, Austria, Oct. 4, 1857. In 1875, at the age of eighteen years, he accompanied his parents, Michael and Catherine (Wemmers) Firnstahl, to the United States, first locating at Nashville, Tenn., and then removing to Louisville, Ky. Their stay in both places was short for they soon came to Wisconsin and resided at Stevens Point a short time. He finished his school studies at the high school at McGregor, Iowa, in 1877 and then began to learn the shoe maker trade there, remaining for one year, and then moved to Colby. He worked here for others for three years and then started in business for himself. In 1886 his place was destroyed by fire but the following year he erected the building which burned down in 1935. Since that time he lived on his farm near Loyal.

He was married to Rose Adrians on May 2, 1882. She died April 29, 1885, leaving two children, Mrs. W. C. Wendt of Elhurst, Ill., and Rose who resides at home. Mr. Firnstahl married for his second wife Augusta Hertz, on Feb. 25th, 1897. To this union, six children were born, Francis of Wisconsin Rapids, Richard of Oshkosh, Alphonse at home, Leo of Madison, S. Dak., Lawrence at home and Helen at home.

He had been active in county politics for many years, giving his allegiance for the Democratic party. In 1896 he was elected justice of the peace which office he held for thirty-five years. He also was city treasurer for seventeen years being elected in 1895. He was a member of the first brass band of this community which was organized about fifty-three years ago. Later he became director of the Colby Cornet Band in which capacity he served for many years.

Out of town people here for the funeral were Dr. and Mrs. Francis Firnstahl of Wisconsin Rapids, Richard Firnstahl of Oshkosh, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Firnstahl of Niles, Mich., Mrs. Inga Firnstahl and daughter, Raymona, of Marshfield, Mrs. Minnie Brehm of Neenah, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hertz of Edgar, Mrs. Bier of Edgar, Mrs. Dora Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Brehm of Unity, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Brehm and Mr. and Mrs. Ewald Brehm of Athens, Mrs. Clarence Rouse of Stevens Point, Sylvester Adrians of Fond du Lac, Miss Nita Pierce of Wisconsin Rapids, Mr. and Mrs. George Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Darton, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Duell, Mr. and Mrs. Orville Wichman, Mike Foelske, Otto Foelske, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wichman of Loyal.