Obit: Wiegert, Bessie (1888 - 1958)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Wiegert, Schermerhorn, Zimmerman, Bauers, Erdman, Hales, Knuth, Monroe, Hoke, Peters, Scott, Van Horn, Maine, Holmes

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) January 8, 1959

Wiegert, Bessie (24 March 1888 - 30 December 1958)

First portion of this report of the house fire of Mrs. Wiegert, is missing:

The fire alarm was given to Fairchild and Humbird departments about 11:30 p.m. December 30, by a truck driver who noticed the flames breaking through the roof as he drove by.  Alex Zimmerman of the Fairchild department, the first on the scene, said he found the doors locked.  He pushed the key from the back door lock and opened it with a skeleton key.  By that time the entire upstairs was in flames, and he was unable to enter that portion of the building.

It was not until the blaze was extinguished several hours later that the body of Mrs. Wiegert was found.

The bed which Mrs. Wiegert used, located on the ground floor, had its blankets turned back.  On a table off the kitchen lay a loaf of bread, its wrapper open, and a pan of vegetable soup.

On the lawn outside there lay a book with the title page "the Profession of Homemaking".

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon from the Bergemann Funeral Home in Neillsville. The Rev. Virgil Holmes of the Neillsville Methodist Church officiated and burial was made in the Fairchild Cemetery.

The former Bessie Schermerhorn, Mrs. Wiegert was born March 24, 1888, in Jackson County.  She was married April 7, 1909, to the late William Wiegert who for many years was widely known for the many barns he built.  A contractor, he built a comfortable home in Alma Center, and later sold it and purchased the farm on Highway 10 in the Town of Foster.

Pallbearers were: Arthur Bauers, A. E. Erdman, Burton hales, Alfred Knuth, L. E. Monroe and a Mr. Hoke, all of Fairchild.

Two hymns, "Jesus Lover of My Soul", and Abide with Me" were sung by Mrs. Robert D. Peters, accompanied by Mrs. Jess W. Scott.

People attending the services from away included: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Van Horn of Tioga; Mr. and Mrs. High Van Horn of Humbird, Mr. and Mrs. Harmon Van Horn and Will Van Horn of Alma Center, and Mrs. G. Maine of Stevens Point.