Obit: Helwig, Charles John (1870 - 1943)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email:  crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Helwig, Kusro, Abel, Richardson, Anderson, Wagner, Pietenpol, Roberts, Otto, Arnold, Henze, Longenecker, Thedinger, Rottjer, Mertes, Weaver, Degener, Gall, Walk, Wick

----Sources: The Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 25 Feb. 1943

Helwig, Charles John (2 April 1870 - 19 Feb. 1943)

Charles John Helwig passed away suddenly at his home on North Grand Ave., Neillsville, at six a.m. Feb. 19th, of a heart attack, though his health had been poorly for several years. He was 72 years of age.

Mr. Helwig was born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Helwig at Hohengluksdorf, Germany, April 2, 1870, the mother’s maiden name being Kusro.

When he was twelve years of age, he came to America with his parents, the family living for a few months in Chicago before moving to a permanent home in Ft. Atkinson, where Charles grew to manhood. He was married there on the 21st day of Nov. 1895, to Miss Louise Abel, who survives. The couple spent the earlier years of their married life at farming.

Four years prior to 1923 they lived at Lake Mills, coming to Neillsville that year to conduct the Hamilton Hotel. They remained in the hotel business until six months ago, when they moved to the John Richardson house on North Grand Ave.

Mr. and Mrs. Helwig were the parents of eight children, four of whom preceded the father in death. The surviving children are: Lawrence, at home; Lottie, Mrs. Victor Anderson, Neillsville; Hazel, Mrs. Roland Wagner, Madison, and Isabelle, Mrs. Bernard Pietenpol, Milwaukee. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, two half brothers: Ernest Helwig, Columbus, Wis., and Herman Helwig of the state of Washington; a sister, Mrs. Minnie Roberts, Duluth, Minn., and three half sisters, Mrs. Bertha Otto and Mrs. Millie Arnold, Watertown, and Mrs. Mary Henze, West Allis.

Funeral services were held at the Lowe Funeral Home in this city at 9:30 a.mm. Sunday morning. The Rev. G. W. Longenecker conducted the service, after which the body was taken to Rome, Jefferson County, Wis. Services there were conducted by the Rev. T. Thedinger, the remains being interred in the family lot.

Out of town relatives who came for the rites included: Mrs. Bernard Pietenpol and baby, Milwaukee; Mrs. Minnie Roberts, Duluth, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Roffjer and daughter, Janet, Loyal Wis. The daughter, Mrs. Wagner and family and other relatives met the Neillsville folks and attended the services at Ft. Atkinson.

The pallbearers were: John Mertes, M. M. Weaver, Albert Degener, Ed. Gall, Hans Walk and John Wick.