Obit: Buchholz, Frederick Richard (1956 - 1971)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Buchholz, Free, Spuhler, Thomas, Richert, Miller, Gutenberger, Mattson, Spate, Appleyard, Murphy, Searls, Bartsch, Grand, Mickelson, Brux, Mills, Wild, Blasel, Loberg, Weber, Boon, Hediger, Johnson, Chadwick, Schultz, Antrim

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 7/01/1971

Buchholz, Frederick Richard (9 February 1956 - 23 June 1971)

Silo gas -- long a scourge of dairy farmers -- claimed the life of 15-year-old Fredrick Buchholz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Buchholz of Christie, late last week Wednesday.

Fred, who had finished his freshman year at Neillsville High School, was reported to have climbed a 60-foot Harvester silo to check the level of haylage in it. Members of the family believed he had descended but the body was found by a brother about 7 p.m.

Silo gas poses a problem to all dairy farmers: but in the type of silo in use on the Buchholz farm, the gas plays an important role in preventing spoilage.

Funeral services for Fredrick Richard Buchholz, 15, of Rt. 3, Neillsville, who was dead on arrival at Memorial Hospital June 23, were held Saturday, June 26, at 2 p.m. from the Christie United Methodist Church. The Rev. Eugene Antrim of Greenwood officiated and burial was made in the Town of Weston Cemetery at Christie. The Georgas Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Fredrick Buchholz, the son of Richard and Viola (Free) Buchholz, was born February 9, 1956, in Neillsville. He attended the Mound View and Neillsville elementary schools and had completed his freshman year at Neillsville High School, where he was a member of the baseball team. He was active in Little League play with the Giants of the National League, and also played softball with his 4-H team. He was a member of the Christie United Methodist Church, the Happy Valley 4-H club, the Future Farmers of America, and the Methodist Youth Fellowship, of which he was treasurer.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include: his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Buchholz of Neillsville and Mrs. Inga Free of Loyal; one sister, Rebecca, age seven, at home; three brothers, Randall, age 11, Dennis, 13, and Roger, 17 all at home.

Pallbearers were: Ralph Weber, Dwayne Boon, Larry Hediger, Charles Johnson, and Jim and Mark Chadwick. Mike Schultz sang “Just As I Am” and “How Great Thou Art”. He was accompanied by Mrs. Donald Schultz.

Those from out of town who attended the services included: Mrs. Inga Free, Mr. and Mrs. La Verne Spuhler, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Thomas, and Herb Richert, Loyal; Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Miller and Beth, Mr. and Mrs. Milton Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gutenberger, New Berlin; Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Gutenberger, Freeport, Ill.; Mrs. Bertha Mattson, Cable; Mr and Mrs. Larry Spate, Belvidere, Il.; Mr. and Mrs. Leland Appleyard and Vicki, Sparta; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Murphy, Black River Falls; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Searls, and Mr. and Mrs. Merle Bartsch, Granton; Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Grand, Milwaukee; Mrs. Jeneda Mickelson, Mn.; Mr. and Mrs. Harland Brux, Greenwood; Allen Mills, Madison; Emilie Wild and Albert Blasel, Stetsonville; Sharon Loberg, Marshfield; George Searls, Reedsburg. The church was filled to overflowing and many people had to stand outside.