Surnames: Beeckler, Kleckner, Fahlgren, Iakisch, Pietenpol, Pickett, Waterman, Poole, Hales, Anderson, Friehschman, Stiemke, Bluett

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 15 June 1944

Beeckler, Erza Adoph (? - 11 June 1944)

E. A. Beeckler, aged 90, Granton, passed away on Sunday, June 11, at the Neillsville hospital after an illness of nine days, his death being attributed to old age complications. Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, June 14, at the Granton village hall at 2:15, following brief services at the home. Services were in charge of the Neillsville Masonic Lodge, the service being conducted by Past Master A. J. Kleckner. The Rev. Floyd A. Fahlgren was the officiating clergyman. Funeral arrangements were in charge of Gilbertson’s at Granton. Burial took place in the Windfall cemetery.

Mr. Beeckler was born in Westminister, Canada, the son of Alexander and Theresa Douglas Beeckler. At the age of two years, he was brought to the United States by his parents, who settled in Sheboygan County. There he grew to manhood and received his education. When very young, he acquired a teacher’s certificate and taught in the schools of Sheboygan County more than 60 years ago, he continued to teach for several years in the town of Lynn, and later at Granton.

While teaching in the Lynn School, he met Miss Emilie Iakisch, to whom he was married at Lynn in 1879. They settled on a farm near the village of Granton, where they resided for many years. He also had a sawmill near his farm home which he ran for several years. Mr. Beeckler continued to teach school after coming to Granton, one of his schools now being known as the Merryvalle School. Later when his two daughters, Pearl and Vera, taught in the same school, the children of John Pietenpol, a former pupil of his, went to school to them. Then last year, his granddaughter, Miss Margaret Beeckler, taught in the same school and the three generations of the Pietenpols, children of Frederick Pietenpol, were her pupils.

Mr. Beeckler held the office of the justice of the peaces for a number of years, and served on the school board many years. Throughout his long life, he never lost interest in the school and school activities. He always attended the annual school meetings, school programs, and basketball games. A special seat was always reserved for him, and for the school games, a chair was always placed on the stage in the village hall. He attended the games during the past winter, and on May 23 was present in his accustomed seat at the high school commencement and was well pleased with the commencement address.

Mr. Beeckler was a civic minded man, always interested in improvements in his home town, and ever loyal to the village of Granton. Several years ago, he and Mrs. Beeckler turned their farm over to their son, Ben, and purchased a home in the village. Mrs. Beeckler passed away in, 1937, and since that time, one or more of his daughters have made their home with him.

He was a great reader of books, magazines and newspapers, being subscriber to three dailies, which he read regularly. His 90th birthday anniversary was observed by his family and close friends on April 26. Throughout the many years of his life, Mr. Beeckler was held in high esteem by his many friends and associates.

He was a member of the Neillsville Masonic Lodge, and next fall would have completed his 50th year of Masonry. He quite enjoyed the past spring seeing his son, Ben receive the Third degree of that order. The last Masonic meeting he attended was on May 20.

He was surprised to learn in his middle life that through he *vote *every public minded had been a voter for man years and a public school teacher, he was not a citizen of the United States. He learned while in Canada whose he acquired some land, that his father had never become a U. S. citizen. His next step was to take out his naturalization papers. These he received when he was about 50 years of age.

Mr. Beeckler is survived by eight children: George, who is town chairman of Levis; Miss Beeckler, who teaches at Minneapolis; Miss Pearl Beeckler, supervising teacher in Vernon County; Tressa, Mrs. Earl Pickett, Spencer; Ben, who resides on the home farm; Vera, Mrs. Clark Waterman, Granton; Haida, Mrs. Raymond Smith, Milwaukee; and Miss Daphne Beeckler, Granton. Three children preceded him in death: Ruth, the eldest, who died at the age of two years; Price, who passed away in 1918; and the youngest sons, Rex, who lost his life in the battle of Belleau Wood in 1918. There are eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. One grandson, Rex Pickett, is a Pharmacist’s mate in the U. S. Navy, having been in service s year and half before Pearl Harbor. Another grandson, Ezra James Waterman, a lieutenant in the air forces, was killed on May 12 of this year.

Pallbearers were: Charles Poole, Merle Hales, David Anderson, Paul Frienschmann, H. Stiemke and L. J. Bluett

**Blurred type - could be off.