Surnames: Tesmer, Gray, Bussan, Kopps, Leonhardt, Smith, Wolf

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 09/26/1946

Tesmer, Louis W. (20 May 1898 - 3 Sept. 1946)

Louis W. Tesmer, age 48 years, died at the Wisconsin General hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 3, following an illness of about one year. His condition became critical a few days before his death and he was taken to the hospital the day before his death. Funeral services were held Sept. 6, 1946, at the Conchlen Chapel, Rev. F. X. Gray officiating. Internment was made in the Calvary cemetery, Platteville, Wis.

Mr. Tesmer was born on May 20, 1898, at Colby, Wis., where he grew to manhood. He attended the Colby public school and graduated from the Colby high school. After finishing high school, he attended the dairy school at the University of Wisconsin and learned the cheese making trade. He went to Galena, Ill., in 1917 and operated the Vinegour Hill cheese factory for two years. On May 14, 1919, he was married to Clara W. Bussan of Galena, Ill. They moved to the Platteville vicinity in the year 1920 and operated the Maple Glen cheese factory for five years. Later they moved to the Long Grove cheese factory which Mr. Tesmer operated for 13 years. In 1939, the family moved to Platteville where Mr. Tesmer entered business. Due to failing health he sold his business on July 1, 1946.

Surviving are his wife, a son, Dale, a daughter, Mrs. Merclan Kopps, both of Platteville, two grand children, two brothers, William of Colby and August of Spencer, and three sisters, Mrs. Minnie Leonhardt of Medford, Mrs. Olive Smith of Marshfield and Mrs. Anna Wolf of Colby, Wisconsin. His father, mother and two brothers, John and Henry, preceded him in death.