Obit: Keller, Walter (1902 - 1943)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email:  crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Keller, Coleman, Hartman, Linster, Asp, Dahnert, Neff, Counsell, Hake, Gerhardt

----Sources: The Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 8 April 1943

Keller, Walter (9 Feb. 1902 - 1943)

Walter, son of Michael and Katherine Keller was born on Feb. 9. 1902, in Helenville, Wis., the youngest of six children.

When a few months old his parents moved to a farm in the town of Levis, Clark County, and resided there until 1919 when they moved to Neillsville, Wis. While living with his parents here, he worked on various farms in the community, making many friends and working hard and diligently.

Not long after reaching his 21st year he was stricken with a severe nervous disease and partial paralysis, which caused him much mental distress, being extremely conscious of his physical handicap. He suffered endless pain but carried his burden without complaint, although knowing that death was his only release.

Walter greatly enjoyed the visits of his friends and was grateful for their friendship. He was quite interested in people in general and friendly to all. When good health was his, every one was a welcome guest in his home, entertaining them with a bright and ready wit and the knowledge gained from activities of his industrious nature.

Walter’s parents preceded him in death. Mr. Keller died in 1931 and Mrs. Keller in 1937.

Two brothers, George Keller of Milwaukee and Oscar of West Allis, and three sisters, Luella Coleman, Whitewater; Esther Hartman, Waukesha and Mable Linster, Route 3 Greenwood, and several nieces and nephews are left to mourn his passing.

As long as he was physically able, he attended church services regularly, being a member of the local Methodist church, where services were held at two p.m. Tuesday after brief services at the Schiller-Terhune Funeral Home. The Rev. O. Asp conducted the rites. He was laid to rest beside his parents in the Neillsville Cemetery.

The pallbearers were: Henry Dahnert, Herman Dahnert, Charles Neff, Clarion Counsell, Warren Hake and Willard Gerhardt, old friends and neighbors of the departed.