Surnames: Leason, Frank, Griesch, Bennett, Crisafulli, Nulton, Wagner, Wilsmann, Wightman, North, Allen, Robinson, Rosekrans, Scott, Jackson

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) 1951

Leason, Dr. W. A. (10 November, 1860 - 3 February 1951)

Dr. W. A. Leason, one of Neillsville’s oldest residents, died at 5:45 p.m. February 3, in St. Joseph’s hospital, Marshfield, at the age of 90 years. Although in failing health for some time, he appeared to be in his usual good humored spirits until Thursday afternoon when he complained of abdominal distress. Dr. Horace Frank, who was called directed that he be taken to Marshfield, where a consultation resulted in the opinion that his condition was due to the complications of old age and that there was nothing that could be done to prolong his life.

Although still able to joke with the nurses when he got to the hospital, he lost strength rapidly and Saturday his doctor announced that pneumonia had set in and that the end was near. A few hours later he slipped away, as serenely as the farewell glow of a cloudless sunset, blending with the deepening blue shadows of twilight.

True it came about that father, who was born the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Leason in the town of Scott, Sheboygan County, Nov. 10, 1860, began at an early age to explore the various means by which people went about the solemn task of making a living. While a boy, still attending school in Hingham, Wis. he tried his hand at trading, doing odd jobs, learning to play the fiddle for square dances, mending tinware, trapping muskrats, shooting pigeons, or selling lemonade at ball games. From the time he was 12 years old he bought his own clothes.

It was while at Plymouth he was married to Anna Griesch July 3, 1890. At Plymouth he organized a baseball team, played shortstop, and the team won 16 out of 17 games that season, and was one of the good teams of that section for a number of years. He also became interested in trotting horses and drove in many county fair races.

Surviving Dr. Leason are a daughter, Mrs. M. E. Bennett of Neillsville and a son, J. A. Leason, of St. Paul; a brother, E. R. Leason of Neillsville, a grandson, Keith Bennett of Chicago, a granddaughter, Mr. M. J. Crisafulli of Mesa, Ariz.; and three great-grandchildren, the children of Dr. and Mrs. Crisafulli.

The funeral was held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday from the Georgas Funeral Home, Rev. Virgil Nulton officiating. Burial was in the Neillsville City Cemetery beside Mrs. W. A. Leason who died March 5, 1943.

Pallbearers were: William J. Wagner, William H. Wilsman, Sr., A. B. Wightman, Herman North, W. H. Allen, and Glen Robinson.

Dr. Sarah Rosekrans sang two selections "Tears" and "Let Me So Remember", Mrs. Jess Scott was the accompanist.

Out of town relatives attending the services were John Leason of St. Paul, Minn. and Mr. and Mrs. Leo Jackson of King.

(See the Bio of Dr. Leason in the Biographies section of the website.)