Obit: Altenburg, Allen (1898 - 1954)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Altenburg, Richelieu, Schoultz, Laatsch, Ploetz, Buzzo, Drago

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 03/25/1954

Altenburg, Allen (1 APR 1898 - 17 MAR 1954)

One of the largest funerals ever held in Owen was conducted Saturday afternoon at one o’clock when friends and relatives packed St. Katherine’s Episcopal Church paying their final respects to Allen C. Altenburg, a prominent businessman in the village of Withee (Clark Co., Wis.) since 1922 and a resident of Owen since 1938.

His many friends and family were shocked late Wednesday afternoon, March 17, 1954, when he was stricken with a heart attack while enroute home from Eau Claire with his wife.  Death came to him about one and one-half hours after he was admitted to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls.  He was 55 years of age.

Apparently feeling in the best of health Mr. and Mrs. Altenburg had returned home on the previous Saturday from a month’s vacation trip in Florida.  They had gone to Eau Claire for a medical checkup of surgery he had submitted to several months previous.  His physician told him everything was OK and he wouldn’t have to return for a checkup for another three months.

At Saturday’s services Rev. R. E. Ortmayer of Chippewa Falls officiated.  Burial was made in Riverside Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers were Emery Erickson, E. C. Olds, Pete Madsen, W. J. Mahoney and Edgar and Clinton Alberts.  Honorary pallbearers were R. C. Graham, C. N. McMillan, Dr. M. V. Nason, Eddie Wendt, Neal Laine and R. E. Gabriel.

Allen C. Altenburg was born on April 1, 1898 at Dancy, Wis., the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Miner H. Altenburg.  His education was obtained in the school systems at Dancy and Appleton, Wis.

Success was a self stamped trademark of his, as he never went into an undertaking half-cocked but instead had the facility of making a thorough analysis of any venture.  This trait was exemplified in the success of his business and associated business ventures.  In 1922 he came to Withee after obtaining the agency for Ford automobiles.  His immediate success is indicated in the fact that five years later he built one of the most modern garage buildings of the time in the area to house his business.

His business interest continued to expand until he became the largest stockholder in the State Bank of Withee.  He was president of the bank at the time of his death.

Al was a big man by physical standards but his heart was equally as large as his build.  He did more banking on the side than most people realize.  Many were the times when a rural friend would come to Al seeking financial help.  Al responded favorably and few of the negotiations required any bank paper.  They were just man to man agreements for a brief period of time.  The many such transactions of this kind and scope of his friendship was indicated when friends called at the funeral home during the short time his body laid in state.  The registrations were larger than any in the past 15 years of the funeral home’s records.

Al was a good civic worker.  He wasn’t much of a man to join organizations nor the type that had his wallet full of membership cards, but his pride and joy was in the success of Meadowview Country Club, of which he was a charter member, past president and a director at the time of his death.  He was a strong supporter of the Boy Scouts and other youth organizations and promotions.

It maybe isn’t as noticeable now as it will be later, but his loss will be keenly felt in this community.

On Dec. 5, 1938, he was united in marriage to Hazel Richelieu in a ceremony performed at Dubuque, Iowa.  His passing is mourned by his wife and two sons, Gene and Jimmy; six sisters, Mrs. Anton Schoultz, Stratford, Mrs. Carl E. Laatach and Mrs. A. V. Schoultz of Minneapolis, Mrs. N. C. Ploetz and Mrs. Marion Buzzo of Wausau and Mrs. Ross Drago of Milwaukee and one brother G. J. Altenburg of Mosinee.

The sincere sympathy of his many friends in this area are extended to Mrs. Altenburg and her two sons.