Surnames: Wiegman, Orth, Bergeman, Schoenwetter, Fink, Grosshuesch, Davis, Nelsen, Bauer, Stecker, Braun, Edblom, Schonitz, Kaseman, Staford, Stark, Klug, Raatz

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 11/22/1956

Wiegman, Richard (11 Mar. 1886 - 16 Nov. 1956)

Richard Wiegman of Colby, age 70, was found dead Friday morning at 8:00 o’clock at the disposal plant in Colby, reportedly of a head wound. A shotgun was found near the body. Conrad Orth, chief of police, found his body while making a regular check at the disposal plant. Wiegman’s car was parked on the disposal plant grounds. John Bergeman of Neillsville, county coroner, reports that Wiegman died of a head wound presumably self-inflicted with a shot gun.

Wiegman left his home shortly after 2:00 P.M. Thursday and Mrs. Wiegman assumed he had gone to the city hall to play cards. However, when he did not come home for supper at 6:00 o’clock she became alarmed and notified authorities.

Mrs. Wiegman said she knew of no reason for the act. She said her husband had suffered from a slight heart condition but seemed in good spirits. He recently underwent two major operations.

Mr. Wiegman was born on March 11, 1886, in the town of Green Grove and farmed there until moving to Colby about 15 years ago and then engaged in carpenter work. He married Lillie Schoenwetter at Green Grove on June 12th, 1912.

Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Clarence Wiegman of Waukegan, Ill., Alvin Wiegman of Cicero, Ill., one grand child, Judy Wiegman of Waukegan, Ill.; one sister, Mrs. Ida Fink of Colby, Wis. A son, Harold, preceded him in death 43 years ago.

Mr. Wiegman was well known here for his honest and congenial disposition and his sudden death cast a cloud over the city. His friends will miss his friendly greetings.

He held offices as secretary and treasurer in the Southwestern Telephone Company for about 25 years, as treasurer and supervisor for a number of years for the town of Green Grove, served on the council and as president of the First Ev. and Reformed church in Colby, Wis. He was a member of the Churchmen’s Brotherhood of that congregation.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon in the First Evangelical and Reformed church, Rev. V. O. Grosshuesch officiating, and internment was made in the Green Grove cemetery. Mrs. O. H. Davis and C. A. Nelsen sang "Abide With Me" and "Come All Ye Desconsolate," accompanied by Miss Rena Bauer. Pall bearers were Pete Schoenwetter of Sheboygan, Merlin Wiegman of Oshkosh, Fritz Schoenwetter of Merrill, Walter Stecker of Marshfield, Art Braun of Sheboygan and Arnold Edblom of Unity, all nephews.

Out of town people here for the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Walter Stecker of Marshfield, Mr. and Mrs. Merlin Wiegman of Oshkosh, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Schoenwetter of Lowell, Mrs. Bertha Schoenwetter of Tomahawk, Mr. and Mrs. Art Braun of Sheboygan, Mr. and Mrs. Emil Kaseman, Tim Staford and Mrs. William Stark of Beaver Dam, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Klug of Pewaukee, Miss Anna Raatz and Mrs. Ed Raatz of Owen, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Raatz and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Edblom of Unity, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Wiegman of Cicero, Ill., and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wiegman and daughter, Judy, of Waukegan, Ill.