Obit: Frantz, Benjamin H. (1888 - 1954) 
 

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Frantz, Weisner, Bast, Quentin, Belaire, Roethe, Hetland, Brainerd, Mularkey, Kohnhoust, Baird, Krultz, Kutsche, Olson, Prock, Schoengarth, Dobes, Haas, Langreck, Schield, Wavrunek, Zilk, Leketas  
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) December 2, 1954 
 

Frantz, Benjamin H. (6 November 1888 - 27 November 1954) 
 

Benjamin H. Frantz, 66, of 104 Court Street, Neillsville, died Saturday afternoon, November 27, 1954, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he had been admitted earlier. Death was attributed to a coronary occlusion. 
 

Mr. Frantz, son of the late Conrad G. and Christine (Weisner) Frantz, was born November 6, 1888, in the Town of Pine Valley.  He was graduated from the Neillsville High School in 1905.  He started to work for County Judge O. W. Schoengarth in 1908 as a court reporter and register in probate.  He served in that capacity until 1933, when he ran for the office of Clerk of Circuit Court.  He was elected and served in that office until his death.  He had just been elected for his eleventh term of office in the last general election.  Mr. Frantz had been active in politics all of is life. 
 

He served in the National Guard for three years and was in service during World War I.  His marriage to Estelle K. Bast took place on June 30, 1913, at Neillsville. 
 

Mr. Frantz was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Holy Name Society, and served as trustee of the church for several years.  He was also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. 
 

He is survived by his wife, and the following children: Mrs. Lawrence (Lucille) Quentin, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Conrad J. Frantz, Fennimore; Cordula Frantz, Neillsville; Mrs. Wilfred (Kathleen) Blaire, Marinette; Joseph E. and Gordon Frantz, both of Neillsville; two sisters, Mrs. Bessie Roethe, Fennimore and Mrs. Victory (Gladys) Hetland of Jefferson. 
 

A requiem high mass was held Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  The Rev. Fr. Peter Leketas officiated.  Interment was in the parish cemetery. A general rosary was said Monday evening at 9:00 p.m. at the Bergemann Funeral Home.   
 

The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Michael A. Prock, a cousin of Mr. Frantz, was present in the sanctuary during the mass and was in charge of the graveside rites at the parish cemetery. 
 

The courthouse employees and the Clark County Board attended in a group. 
 

Honorary pallbearers were: Hastings Baird, Mike Krultz, Jr., Ray Kutsche, Herman Olson, Linus Prock, Judge O. W. Schoengarth. 
 

Pallbearers were: Frank Dobes, B. H. Haas, Henry Langreck, Joseph Schield, Joseph Wavrunek and Joseph Zilk, Sr.  
 

Close relatives attending the services were: Atty. and Mrs. Conrad Frantz, Fennimore; Dr. and Mrs. Wilfred Belaire, Marinette; Judge and Mrs. George Frantz, Fennimore; Mrs. Bessie Roethe, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Roethe, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Roethe, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Brainerd, all of Fennimore; Edwin Bast, West Bend; Mr. and Mrs. John Bast, John Bast, Jr., Miss Audrey Bast, all of Eau Claire; Rt. Rev. Msgr. Michael Prock, Hurley; Miss Ann Prock, Hurley; Mr. and Mrs. Victor Hetland, Jefferson; Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Mularkey, Schofield; Mrs. Arthur Kohnhoust, Wausau; Mrs. Delbert Baird and Mrs. Mabel Baird, Marshfield.