Surnames: Wagner, Cotter, Phillippi, Walsdorf, Rasmussen, Peters, Diamond

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 05/27/1948

Wagner, Katherine #2 (8 MAY 1865 - 21 MAY 1948)

Mrs. Katherine Wagner was born May 8, 1865 at Brazer Falls, New York, the daughter of Dan Diamond and Fannie Cotter. While still a young girl she moved with her parents, brothers and sisters to Colby, Wis., where she grew to womanhood. Her parents later moved to Eagle River.

On Dec. 26, 1885 at Thorp, she was united in marriage to William Wagner, founder and publisher of the Thorp Courier. Mr. Wagner passed away on May 18, 1943. To this union was born five children, Mau (Mrs. Matt Phillippi) who died in 1929, Florence (Mrs. Joseph Walsdorf) of Milwaukee, Alice (Mrs. Arthur Rasmussen) of Longview, Wash., Gretchen (Mrs. Kenneth Peters) of East Lansing, Mich., and William S. Wagner of Thorp.

Since the death of her husband Mrs. Wagner spent most of her time at her home here and continued to be associated with her son in publishing the "Courier." She was able to be about her doing what her strength would permit. She loved her home and enjoyed old friends.

Thursday she was about the house as usual. Shortly after breakfast she was overcome by a heart attack. She was accompanied by her son and daughter-in-law to St. Joseph’s Hospital, Chippewa Falls, where she appeared to be recovering. She never lost consciousness but a sinking spell overtook her early Friday morning and she passed away..

The body lay in state at the Thorp Funeral Home until the time of the funeral , and many friends called. Tuesday morning services were held in St. Bernard’s Church, of which she had long been a member. Rev. A. M. Muckerheide officiated at the 9:00 o’clock funeral Mass. The many flowers and baskets of flowers sent by relatives and friends were beautiful.

Friends bearing the casket were L. P. Walsdorf, R. G. Lawrence, Chas. Possley, Louis Gruszynski, Lee Snyder, and Dr. W. F. Nolechek. The Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion, of which she was a member, attended in a body and read a short service at the Thorp Funeral Home and at the grave. Sorrowing relatives and friends accompanied the remains to the Thorp Cemetery where Rev. A. Muckerheide conducted the final commitment service. She was laid to rest beside her husband and daughter.

Besides three daughters and one son she is survived by one brother, Dr. John Diamond of Gladstone, Mich., nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends who were here to attend the funeral of Mrs. Wm. Wagner on Tuesday were: Mrs. Carl Von Neupert and daughter Mrs. Harold Baebenroth of Stevens Point, Mrs. Callie Krepsky of Milwaukee, Mrs. Genevieve Neck and George Krepsky of Colby, Dr. and Mr. Kenneth Peters and son, Jimmy, Jack and Jerry of East Lansing, Mich., Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Walsdorf, Milw., Dr. and Mrs. John Diamond of Gladstone, Mich., Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hiltunen and daughter Lois Ann, Mrs. Wilbert Poyhonen and daughter Mary of Stone, Mich. And Mrs. Herman Tiedemann of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.