Surnames: Kuester, Mall, Rosse, Hardrath, Seefluth, Dommer, Franz, Rex

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 10/11/1956

Kuester, Edmund (30 Oct. 1877 - 2 Oct. 1956)

Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran church in Riplinger for Edmund Kuester, whose death was chronicled last week, Rev. Paul Mall officiating, and internment was made in the parish cemetery. Pall bearers were Edward Rosse, Ray Hardrath, Walter Hardrath, Herman Seefluth, Milton Dommer, Alfred Kuester.

Mr. Kuester, a resident of the Riplinger area since 1919, was treasurer of School District No. 6 for 12 years and treasurer of the town of Unity for 15 years. He also served as Sunday School superintendent of the Riplinger Lutheran church for 23 years and also was secretary of the congregation for a number of years.

He was born in Halle, Saxony, Germany, Oct. 30, 1877, and received his education there. After his family came to the United States June 15, 1892, they settled in Fairfax, Minn., where he worked as a farmhand for 10 years.

On Feb. 18, 1904, he married Hattie Franz at Fort Riley, Minn. They farmed in the Minnesota townships of Wellington and Martensburg and near Fairfax before moving to their farm in the town of Unity in Sept. 1919. The farm has been operated by a son, Arthur, since 1945, when Mr. Kuester retired to Riplinger. His wife died May 14, 1942.

Surviving are nine children, Mrs. Rueben (Olga) Rex of Unity, Arthur and Wilbert of Riplinger, Helmuth of Edgar, Otto and Victor of Milwaukee, Arnold of Bradgate, Iowa, and Rev. Immanuel Kuester of Oshkosh. He was preceded in death by a son, Herbert, a twin of Wilbert, two brothers, Carl and William, and a sister, Mrs. Fred (Ida) Dommer.

*** Note: His date of death is from the St. John’s Cemetery Index, Riplinger, Clark County, Wisconsin.