Obit: Hediger, Kurt Fred ( 1934 - 2007)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Hediger, Cole, Hoppa, Dickerson, Dux, Knoop, Patey, Harder, Thoma, Holmes, Quintanilla, Opelt, Schroeder

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) Thursday, October 18, 2007

Hediger, Kurt Fred (9 Aug.1934 - 2007)

Kurt F. Hediger

Kurt Hediger, 73, of Neillsville died Oct. 17, 2007, at his home after a 10-month battle with cancer.

Funeral services for Kurt will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Globe. The Rev. Daniel Cole will officiate. Music will be provided by Karen Hoppa, organist, Nicholas Dickerson and Daniel and Bunny Dux, vocalists. Interment will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery with military rites accorded by the Neillsville Veterans Council.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Gesche Funeral Home and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Casket bearers are: Andre Dickerson, Nicholas Dickerson, Christopher Dickerson, Steve Knoop, John Patey and David Dux.

Kurt Fred Hediger was born Aug. 9, 1934, in Neillsville, the son of Herman and Hanna (Harder) Hediger. He graduated from Neillsville High School in 1953. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in April 1956. He married Arlene Thoma on Jan. 31, 1959, in New Hampton, Iowa. After marriage, Kurt and Arlene built their home near the Black River between Christie and Globe.

Kurt worked for his father at Hediger Dairy in Christie from a young age until 1970 as a butter/cheese maker. After the sale of Hediger Dairy, Kurt continued to work at Bledsoe's Dairy until 1972. He painted water towers for one year, and worked at Cenex as a gas hauler from 1974 through 1989, when he retired.

Kurt logged his land, grew and sold Christmas trees until 2007. He loved his land, nature, hunting, fishing, playing cards and watching Packers and Badgers football.

Kurt was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, the American Legion and the Men's Club.

He is survived by his wife, Arlene; three children: Mark Hediger of Eau Claire, Mary (J.D.) Holmes of Eau Claire and Mitch (Jody) Hediger of Marion, Iowa; five grandchildren: Andre Dickerson of Ogden, Utah, Nicholas Dickerson of Owatonna, Minn., Christopher Dickerson of Milwaukee and Benjamin and Jessica Hediger of Marion, Iowa; a step-granddaugher: Jeanette (Jeremy) Quintanilla; three stepgreat-grandchildren: Christopher, Makenzie and Caleigh, all of Del Rio, Texas; three sisters: Hanna (Bernie) Opelt of Neillsville, Margaret (Art) Schroeder of Corvallis, Mont., and Rosie (Robert) Knoop of Neillsville; two brothers: Herman Hediger of Neillsville and Fritz (Dixie) Hediger of Neillsville; along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a niece, Marie, and his parents.