Obit: Wilde, William (1856 - 1943)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: Wilde, Carroll, Riley, Sabler, Holtzhausenm Goeltz, Engeldinger, Kobs, Niggeman, Yelke, Rannow, Heart, Fecker, Pickett, Alexander, Firnstahl, Mihlke, Benz, Riplinger, Strom, Jensen, Orado

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 04/08/1943

Wilde, William (23 Mar. 1856 - 31 Mar. 1943)

William Wilde, one of the oldest residents of Colby, died at the age of 87 years last week Wednesday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Carroll, at Las Vegas, Nev. He suffered a stroke last December and had been ill since then. Death was due to complications due to old age. Funeral services were held at the Lulloff Funeral home in Colby Sunday afternoon at 2:30, Rev. A. C. Riley officiating, and internment was made in the Colby cemetery. Pall bearers were Carl Sabler, Carl Holtzhausen, Frank Goeltz, John Engeldinger, George Kobs and Conrad Niggeman. Those in charge of the flowers were Mary Engeldinger, Mae Yelke, Leona Rannow, Leone Heart, Marie Fecker, Grayce Pickett, Vera Alexander, Virginia Firnstahl.

Mr. Wilde was born on March 23, 1856, in Peoria, Ill., and came to this community at the age of 13, living in a tent the first winter. He traveled extensively in Canada and Western and southwestern United States when a young man. He was married on May 17, 1896, to Miss Emma Mihlke of Colby, Wis. They lived on a farm west of Colby for several years and then spent a few years in the West. About 32 years ago, they purchased a home in the south city limits of Colby, Wis. He was a painter by trade but the past 20 years was employed as janitor of Colby, Wis. High School. He resigned in January, 1942. Last September, Mr. and Mrs. Wilde left for Las Vegas, Nev., to spend the winter with their son in law and daughter.

Surviving are his widow and eight children, namely - Mrs. John Fecker of Abbotsford, Mrs. Norman Pickett of Dorchester, Mrs. John Carroll of Las Vegas, Nevada, Mrs. Joseph Carroll of Chicago, Pvt. Roy Wilde of Camp Claiborne, La., James P. Wilde of Colby, William Wilde, Jr., at U.S. Coast Guard School at Wilmington, Del., and Mrs. June Benz of Denver, Col. Also 19 grand children and one great grand child. Three children died in infancy.

Mr. Wilde was a charter member of the Colby fire department and served as chief for many years. He also served a term as alderman of the city of Colby, Wis. Like all our early pioneers, he was of an industrious and congenial disposition, honest in all his dealings. He had many friends who will miss him.

Out of town people here for the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Norman Pickett and family of Dorchester, Mr. and Mrs. John Fecker and family of Abbotsford, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Riplinger of Riplinger, Mrs. Pete Strom of Hudson, Wis., Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Jensen and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Jensen of Dorchester, Arnold Jensen of Abbotsford, Pfc. William Wilde, Jr., of Wilmington, Del., Mr. and Mrs. Joe Carroll, James Orado and Mrs. Roy Wilde of Chicago, Ill., and Pvt. Roy Wilde of Camp Claiborne, La.