Obit: Brill, William J. (1857 - 1939)

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Surnames: Brill, Brady, Apfelbeck, Butler, Schuh, Firnstahl, Kraus, Frane, Hennis, Sturm, Wolfe, Limbach, Kuepper, Schickert, Hennes, Vanderhyden, Rafferty, Hebert, Chulik

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 05/25/1939

Brill, William J. (27 Oct. 1857 - 19 May 1939)

William J. Brill, a resident of the town of Hull, Wisconsin for fifty-seven years, died Friday at 8:45 P.M. at the home of his son and daughter in law, Mr. and Mrs. John Brill, at the age of 82 years. Death was the result of a stroke of paralysis suffered May 17. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning at St. Mary’s Catholic church in Colby, Rev. Brady officiating at a requiem high mass and burial was made in the parish cemetery. Pall bearers were Peter Apfelbeck, Abe Butler, Joe Schuh, Paul Firnstahl, C. Joe Kraus, Louis Frane. Flower girls were Marcella Brill, Delores Brill, Josephine Brill, Marguerite Brill.

Mr. Brill was born on October 27, 1857, in Richfield, Washington county. He was married on October 17, 1882, to Catherine Hennis in Germantown, Washington county. The couple moved to the town of Hull two weeks after their marriage. His wife preceded him in death in 1936.

Surviving are five sons - Joseph of Menomonee Falls, Theodore, William and John of the town of Hull, and Matthew of Marathon. Also one sister, Mrs. Mary Sturm of Stratford and 29 grand children.

Mr. Brill was held in high esteem by all who knew him which is exemplified by the many offices he held. He served three years as town chairman and member of the Marathon county board of supervisors and was clerk of the School District No. 2 for 30 years. He was active in the American Society of Equity and at one time was chairman of the Hull Equity local. He was a member of the Holy Name Society and of the Catholic Order of Foresters.

The deceased was a good Christian, honest in all his dealings, a devoted husband and a kind and indulgent father. He was a man of generous impulses and never forgot the hospitable ways of the pioneer. He had filled the various relations of life as son, husband, father, brother, friend, and filled them well. But now he is gone and another name is stricken from the ever lessening roll of our old settlers.

Out of town people here for the funeral were Joe Brill and Elizabeth of Menomonee Falls, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Wolfe, Sr., of Richfield, Mrs. Joe Limbach, Mrs. Wm. Kuepper, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Schickert and Theo. Hennes of Hubertus, Wm. Wolfe, Jr., of Richfield, Mr. and Mrs. Pohn Hennes of Marshfield, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hennes of Stratford, Theo. Hennes of Marshfield, Mrs. John Brill and daughter and son of Stratford, Mrs. Vanderhyden and Mrs. George Rafferty of Eau Claire, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hennes of Medford, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hebert of Unity, B. J. Chulik of Minneapolis, Alex Sturm of Stratford, Mr. and Mrs. Matt Brill and daughter and son of Marathon City, Mary Ann Brill of Eau Claire.