Surnames: Schmedel, Otto, Christensen

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 04/12/1945

Schmedel, Roy E. (14 Jan. 1893 - Apr. 1945)

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When the emergency came, he called Central and asked her to call his doctor and his wife, who was downstairs. When the doctor arrived, he said, "This is it," and repeated it several times. Those were his last words.

Mr. Schmedel came to Neillsville with his family in 1927. He was the superintendent of the Condensery of the American Stores Dairy Co. and found in that activity an outlet for his skill as a chemical engineer. During the 18 years of his service the Condensery has been almost completely rebuilt and re-equipped. The work of reconstruction had been carried on without interruption of the factory routine. The development of the plant and business was Mr. Schmedel’s professional accomplishment and his major contribution to the community.

As a member of the community he had other interests also, in which he was constructively active. He was long president of the Neillsville Country club, and had much to do with the development and maintenance of the course. He was a dependable factor in the Kiwanis club. With Mr. Schmedel Masonry was a great interest. He had been active in Watertown, and went on in Neillsville, becoming commander of the local Commandery and a Thirty-Second degree mason. He was also a noble of the Mystic Shrine. The funeral, plans for which are yet to be arranged, will be Masonic. Internment will be at Watertown.

Roy E. Schmedel was born in Indianapolis January 14, 1893, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schmedel. He went to public schools in Indianapolis, and attended Purdue university, where he specialized in chemical engineering, taking both bachelor and master degrees. Following graduation in 1914, he went to Chicago and worked for a short time for the Bell Telephone Co. Then he went to Watertown, Wis., and was for 13 years chemist for the Van Camp organization. He came to Neillsville from that connection.

At Watertown Mr. Schmedel married Lorraine Otto in 1918. There are two children, Betty and William. Betty is Mrs. R. W. Christensen of Madison, and is the mother of a little boy. William, 20, is a specialist gunner in the navy. His last known address was Charleston, S.C. He is in the process of reassignment, and difficulty was experienced in communicating with him.