Surnames: McMahon, Wiesner, Steele, Hanchman, Zimmer, Schwellenbach, Montie, Bailey, Amidon, Prock, Croasdale, Heintz, Seif, Frantz

----Source: CLARK COUNTY PRESS (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 05/29/1947

McMahon, Minnie C. (6 FEB 1864 - 20 MAY 1947)

Funeral services for Mrs. Minnie C. McMahon, 83, of Neillsville (Clark Co., Wis.), were held at St. Mary’s Church on Friday morning, May 23. The Rev. Fr. Michael A. Prock of Eau Claire, nephews of Mrs. McMahon, read the requiem high mass at 10 o’clock. Services which were from the Cole Funeral Home were in charge of Martin Prock of Eau Claire, also a nephew of the deceased. A rosary service was held Thursday evening at the funeral home. Mrs. McMahon died at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Lois Heintz, Neillsville, on Tuesday morning, May 20, 1947, after an illness of eight weeks.

Pallbearers for the services were a grandson, Arne Schwellenbach, and five nephews - David, John and Charles Seif, Louise Wiesner and Robert Frantz. Burial took place in the Neillsville Cemetery.

Minnie C. Wiesner, daughter of Frederick and Caroline Wiesner, was born Feb. 6, 1864, in New London, Wis. In her youth she came with her parents to Clark County. They settled in the town of Sherwood and also lived for some time at City Point. In 1882 she was married to August Seif, who had also come with his family from New London to the Neillsville area. They bought a piece of timberland in the town of Lynn and together worked to clear the land and build a home. Mr. Seif died in 1893, leaving her with four small daughters. A son, Louie, had died at the age of six and a daughter in infancy.

In 1895 she was married to Arthur Steele and they continued to live on the farm in the town of Lynn. Three children were born to them, two sons and a daughter. After Mr. Steele’s death in 1907, she sold the farm and moved with her children to Neillsville. One boy, Archie, died at the age of nine years.

She was again married in 1913 to Timothy McMahon of Mount Pleasant, Mich., and moved with her younger children to that city, where she lived until Mr. McMahon’s death in December 1945. She sold her home there and returned to Neillsville. Mrs. McMahon became blind six years ago, and her daughter, Mrs. Tena Hanchman, went to Mount Pleasant to care for her. Since returning to Neillsville they have lived at the home of Mrs. Hanchman’s daughter, Mrs. Lois Heintz. Through the last five years Mrs. Hanchman has patiently and tenderly cared for her mother. By coincidence, the day of her mother’s death was five years for the day she had left Neillsville to go to her mother’s home in Mt. Pleasant.

Mrs. McMahon was active in church work during her residence in Mt. Pleasant and since returning to Neillsville ahs been a member of St. Mary’s Church. She was a woman of unselfish disposition and was known for her kindnesses to others, often at great personal sacrifice.

Surviving are four children, eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The children are: Mrs. Emma Zimmer, Mrs. Tena Hanchman, and Elva, Mrs. William Schwellenbach, all of Neillsville, and Elmer Steele of Lansing, Mich. Two daughters died in maturity - Clara Seif Montie died in Ecorse, Mich. In 1922, and Florinda Steele Bailey died in Jackson, Mich. In 1942. A grandson, Tommy Montie, was killed in World War II in the battle for the Anzio beachhead.

Also surviving are three sisters, Mrs. Carried Amidon of Hayward and Mrs. George Prock of Eau Claire, both of whom were here for the funeral services, and Mrs. Margaret Croasdale of International Falls, Minn., who was unable to be here. Two sisters ate deceased, Mrs. Mary Seif and Mrs. Christine Frantz, who homes were in Neillsville. Four brothers are deceased, George, Fred, Charles and Frank Wiesner, all of whom lived in this community.

Out of town relatives who were here for the services were: Elmer Steele and his son, Archie, of Lansing, Mich.; Mrs. Frank Thome and son, Spring Valley; Mrs. Laura Keuer, Granton; Miss Anne Prock and Mrs. Martin Prock of Eau Claire.