Obit: Demmer, Grace (1867 - 1944)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: Demmer, Barkowski, Umhoefer, Schlimm, Kraus, Baer, Kanter, Niggeman, Walsh, Burgmeier, Exmer, Ziech, Rixyinski, Podewitz, Persohn, Balistar, Jensen, Jordan, Lube, Hiebsch, Wilkomm, Lauer

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 11/02/1944

Demmer, Grace (16 Feb. 1867 - 29 Oct. 1944)

Mrs. Grace Demmer, age 76, who lived alone in Colby for about the past 25 years, was killed instantly Sunday afternoon at about 3:30 o’clock in Stanley when she was struck by a railroad train on a grade crossing. The accident occurred while Mrs. Demmer was visiting friends at her former home in Stanley. Mrs. Demmer is hard of hearing and it is believed that she did not hear the approaching train. The body was taken to the Lulloff Funeral Home in Colby where it will lie in state until this Thursday morning when funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic church.

Mrs. Demmer was born in Germany and came to the United States when she was 15 years old. She lived at Stanley and Chippewa Falls before coming to Colby about 25 years ago. Her husband died several years ago.

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 11/09/1944

Funeral services for Mrs. Grace Demmer were held at St. Mary’s Catholic church in Colby last Thursday morning, Rev. August Barkowski officiating, and internment was made in the Calvary cemetery at Chippewa Falls beside the grave of her husband. Pall bearers were A. X. Umhoefer, John Schlimm, C. J. Kraus, Nick Baer, Nick Kanter and Conrad Niggeman.

Mrs. Demmer was born in Bavaria, Germany, on Feb. 16, 1867. Her husband, Joseph Demmer, preceded her in death some years ago. He operated a shoe shop at Chippewa Falls for a number of years and then they moved to Colby where Mrs. Demmer lived up to the time of her death. Leo Demmer, an adopted son, was drowned in a lake at Durand about 30 years ago. He was preparing himself for the priesthood at that time. A sister, Mrs. Matt Roth, of Pittsville, survives.

Mrs. Grace Demmer, age 76, was killed instantly at 6:30 o’clock Sunday evening, Oct. 29, at Stanley while walking over Soo Line tracks at the Broadway crossing. She was unaccompanied and was walking north on her way to visit an old friend, Mrs. Margaret Walsh, at the time. The west bound through freight was going through Stanley at the time.

Out of town relatives here for the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Ray Burgmeier of Milwaukee, Mrs. Kate Burgmeier of Okauchee, Mrs. Joe Exmer of Wisconsin Rapids, Mrs. Frank Ziech of Wausau, Mrs. Adolph Rixyinski of Pittsville, Mrs. Albert Podewitz of Wisconsin Rapids, Mrs. Irvin Persohn of Port Edwards, Mrs. Peter Balistar of Milwaukee, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Jensen of Spencer, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jordan of Melen, Mr. and Mrs. Aug. Lube of Marshfield, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hiebsch of Curtiss, Wis. Out of town friends here for the funeral were Mrs. Peter Willkomm of Milwaukee, Mr. and Mrs. Matt Lauer of Stanley and Mrs. Margaret Walsh and daughter, Laura, of Stanley.