Surnames: Behr, Malueg, Whonder, Therrmat, Erickson, Dietsche, Wussow, Fritze, Daeke, Guhl, Loeffler, Burek, Kragenbrink, Rheinold, Wibben, Hackel, Weise, Haman

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 01/14/1943

Behr, Peter (15 Nov. 1858 - 9 Jan. 1943)

Funeral services for Peter Behr, age 84, pioneer resident of the Town of Johnson for about 50 years, were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Gilles Funeral home at Athens and internment was made at the Lutheran cemetery at Milan, beside his wife who died 17 years ago. The Rev. E. E. Malueg, Town of Frankfort, officiated.

The deceased was born Nov. 15, at ?anan, Burg Sarrine Germany. He came to America Nov. 15, 1881 at the age of 23 years, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Behr. He was united in marriage to Helena Whonder in ?. Born to this union was one son who died at Chippewa Falls several years ago. His first wife died Feb. 25, ?.

On March 19, 1887, he was united in marriage to Johanna Therrmat, at Dorchester, Wis. Born to this union were 12 children, one died in infancy. Survivors are four daughters and seven sons: Mrs. John Erickson and Mrs. Edwin Dietsche, Town of Johnson; Mrs. Rheinard Wussow, Wausau; Mrs. William Fritze, Plymouth; William, Dorchester; George and Bernard of Athens; Otto and Peter Jr., Plymouth; Edward, Bremen, Minn.; and Ira Behr, Greenbush. Two sisters, Mrs. Dora Daeke, Athens; Mrs. Sophie Guhl, Abbotsford; 46 grand children and four great grand children.

Mr. Behr, a retired farmer, was staying at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Edwin Dietsche, and was in ill health. During the night, when Mrs. Dietsche arose to replenish the fire, she noticed that her father was not in bed nor in the house. She called her older children, and they searched around the home until about 6:30. Then Mr. Behr was found by his grand son, Peter, about a quarter of a mile from the home. The body was hanging over a fence and blood stains in the snow near by indicated that he died while seeking to hold himself upright after wandering away from home. He was partially clad. Members of the family expressed the opinion that Mr. Behr awoke during the night, and, after partially dressing himself, went outside and became lost. He was in ill health and had been assisted in retiring at night.

Death was due to exposure, according to Dr. A. W. Burek, Marathon county coroner, who with District Attorney Frank G. Loeffler and Undersheriff E. R. Kragenbrink, were called to the scene shortly after the body was found.

Those from a distance who attended the funeral were his sons, William Behr, Dorchester; Edward Behr, of Bremen, Minn.; George and Bernard Behr, Athens; Otto and Peter Behr and Mrs. William Fritze, Plymouth; Mr. and Mrs. Rheinold and family, of Wausau; Ira Behr, Greenbush; Miss Helena Dietsche, Plymouth, and Edwin Dietsche, who is a patient at the Veterans’ hospital, at Wood.

The pallbearers were his sons: Bernard, George, Edward, Ira, and William.

Also attending the funeral from away were Nicklas Wibben and William Hackel, Abbotsford; E. M. Haman and Carl Weise, Athens.