Obit: Firnstahl, Manny F. #2 (1924 - 2013)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Beil, Churchill, Dobbe, Firnstahl, Gruny, Hackel, Hasenohrl, Hedler, Hoppa, Mikula, Primeau, Schoeneck-Churchill,

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 10/30/2013

Firnstahl, Manny F. (23 AUG 1924 - 25 OCT 2013)

Manny F. Firnstahl, 89, of Colby, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 25, 2013, at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield in the palliative care unit with his family by his side.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 30, 2013, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Colby. Father Dan Hackel will officiate. A visitation will be held Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Colby, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 4:00 p.m. and again visitation will be held on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at St. Mary’s in Colby. Burial will be at Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Colby with full military rites conducted by Colby VFW Post #2227.

Manny was born August 23, 1924, in the Town of Hull in Marathon County to Herbert and Lucille (Hoppa) Firnstahl. He attended Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Colby and graduated from Colby High School in 1942. After graduation he worked at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Wash., for a little while. He then became a member of the Army Air Force from 1943 to 1945. He was a crew chief during WW II and flew over China, Burma and India.

Manny married Genevieve Beil in 1948. Genevieve passed away in 1957. He then married Mary Primeau on September 5, 1959, at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Colby. He lived in Colby his entire life and worked for several maintenance companies in the local area. Manny retired from working in 1993. He has done many hours of volunteering since his retirement. He also enjoyed camping and outdoor cooking and his famous peach cobbler. He also enjoyed woodworking and spending time with family and friends.

He was a devoted member of St. Mary’s Catholic Parish in Colby. He also was a Eucharistic minister at the church and for the homebound and a lector and usher. Manny was a life member of VFW Post 2227 in Colby. He also served as commander for 2 terms and quartermaster for 15 years until the time of his death. He was assistant scout master for the 383 Boy Scout Troop, institutional representative for the Ojibwa District and Samoset Council for 35 years. He received the District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award for his work with the scouts. In 1997, he was chosen as Citizen of the Year for the City of Colby.

Manny is lovingly survived by his wife, Mary Firnstahl of Colby; five children, Connie (Jim) Schoeneck-Churchill of Rhinelander, Mary Chris (Mike) Mikula of Wausau, Butch (Joanne) Firnstahl of Medford, Tom (Diane) Firnstahl of Colby and Rich (Michelle) Firnstahl of Eau Claire; seven grandchildren, Travis (Liz) Mikula of Three Lakes, Derek (Angie) Mikula of Appleton, Tonia (Ryan) Dobbe of Elm Grove, Tara (Jesse) Gruny of Medford, Jamie (Kevin) Churchill of Seattle, Wash., Eric Firnstahl of Colby and Amy Firnstahl of Weston; and three great-grandchildren, Kenadie Mikula, Lydia Gruny and Brynna Dobbe.

Manny is further survived by four siblings, Delores (Jake) Hedler of Colby, Margaret (Ken) Hasenohrl of Colby, Dan (Karen) Firnstahl of Medford and Margy Firnstahl of Arpin.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Lucille; his first wife, Genevieve; a daughter, Kathleen; a brother, Jim; a son-in-law, Range Schoeneck; and his brother-in-law, Berdell.

In lieu of flowers a memorial can be made to Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Colby VFW Post #2227 or Colby Boy Scout Troop #383.

Manny’s family would like to thank the staff at Saint Joseph’s Hospital Palliative Care Unit for the wonderful care he received.

Maurina Schilling Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made to www.maurinaschilling.com