Obit: Fricke, Oscar (1863 - 1911)

Contact: Ann Stevens

Email:  sdann88@yahoo.com

Surnames: Fricke, Dangers, Frankenburg, Rossman, Ditton, Cornelius, Bauer, Woodward, Servaty, Zetsche, Baeschlin

----Source:  Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.)  02/16/1911

Fricke, Oscar (May 18, 1863-Feb 14, 1911)

(picture of deceased in newspaper obituary)

Oscar Fricke was born in Newburg, Wis., May 18, 1863.  He died early Tuesday morning at Sacred Heart Hospital as the result of an attack of appendicitis and gall stones, for which an operation was performed Thursday.  Mr. Fricke came with his parents to Clark County in 1876, settling on a farm south of Greenwood.  He secured a good common school education and when a young man bought a farm adjoining that of his parent’s and thought to engage in farming as a life’s vocation.  However, in March, 1892, he went to Greenwood, where he and B. Dangers formed a partnership under the firm name of Dangers & Fricke and engaged in the mercantile business.  This business was conducted by Mr. Fricke with Mr. Frankenburg, to whom Mr. Dangers sold his interest, and later the firm name became Fricke & Rossman.  Mr. Fricke was united in marriage to Miss Clara Ditton on May 5, 1894, and to this union one daughter, Zura, was born.

On Oct. 1, 1908, Mr. Fricke was appointed Register of Deeds of Clark County, by the resignation of Chas. Cornelius, and this office he has held ever since up to the time of his death.  He disposed of his interest in the mercantile business at Greenwood to Mr. Rossman about five years ago.

Mr. Fricke was a member of the Presbyterian Church, was a Woodman, a charter member of the Odd Fellow Lodge at Greenwood, a member of the Encampment, of Rebekkas, and also held insurance in the Fraternal Reserve Association.

Death has devious and uncertain manners and we know not when the pendulum of each life will cease its swaying.  On Wednesday afternoon of last week, Oscar Fricke was taken sick, and Thursday afternoon was hurried to Eau Claire for an operation.  But a few days ago he was in the prime of apparently strong and vigorous manhood, and today but a memory remains of his jovial disposition and the kindly acts which he delighted in performing.  Oscar was one of the best known of the public men of this county.  He took a deep interest in public affairs and in the discharge of his official duties was most accommodating and obliging.  He was optimistic in all things and in his associations with his fellow men he diffused an influence that could not but make for the more cheerful, charitable and honorable side of life.  He was conscientious to the last degree and honorable in every dealing both private and public.  That such a man should be cut off in the time of life when his influence was best apparent, is a matter of the deepest sorrow and regret to all.

Mr. Fricke will be buried at Greenwood, but as yet the funeral arrangements have not been definitely made, owing to the possible arrival of his sisters from the west.  Unless they come, there will be a brief service at the family residence in this city Friday morning at 9:30 o’clock and the remains will then be taken to Greenwood, where a service will be held at 2:30 o’clock in the afternoon of the same day.  Mr. Fricke is survived by his wife and daughter and brother and sisters as follows: William Fricke of Billings, Mont., Mrs. Louisa Bauer and Miss Bertha Fricke of Portland, Ore., Mrs. Minnie Woodward and Mrs. Emma Servaty of Fresno, Cal., Mrs. Ida Zetsche and Mrs. Matilda Baeschlin of Greenwood.