Obit: Gerdes, Carl (1896 - 1954)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Gerdes, Johnson, Seibert, King, Lucht, Lamke, Luchterhand, Haslow, Raab, Volk, Boe, Catlin, Kauffman, Kanneberg, Stoltz, Zimmerman, Wolters, Bredlau, Seeman, Lemke, Lulloff, Breitenstein, Eiden, Burdan, Brown, Snowberg, Hupe, Thomson, Rayhorn, Laessig, Saveland, Martin, Justman, Tasse

----Source: The Loyal Tribune (Loyal, Clark Co., WI.)  February 4, 1954

Gerdes, Carl (26 January 1896 - 27 January 1954)

Funeral rites for Carl Gerdes, 58, were held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, with the Rev. Norbert King officiating.  Mr. Gerdes died of a heart attack at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, at his home at Spokeville.  Burial was in the parish cemetery.

He was born Jan. 26, 1896, in Stevens Point, and at the age of 2 years he came to Loyal with his parents, where he received his education in the parochial school.  He also attended college in Stevens Point.

At the age of 13 he moved with his parents to Spokeville and had lived there ever since.  He was married to Walbey Johnson on August 10, 1918 in the University Chapel in Madison.

He operated a feed mill and a general store, and was also a building contractor.

He was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Loyal.

Pallbearers were: Dr. G. W. Nelson, Art Lucht, Otto Lamke, Alvin Luchterhand, Albert Haslow and John Haslow. Military graveside rites were conducted by the local American Legion Post No. 175.

Jess Raab and Perry Volk were color bearers; Henry Boe and Claude Catlin were color guards; V. O. Kauffman, Chaplain; Kenneth Kanneberg, post commander, acted as squad commander; and in the firing squad were Norbert Stoltz, Lloyd Zimmerman, Dan Wolters, Bob Bredlau, Dale Kauffman, Bud Seeman, Norman Lemke, and Bob Lulloff.

Mr. Gerdes is survived by his wife; a daughter, Mrs. Earl (Barbara) Seibert, Neillsville; a son, John (Bucky) Gerdes, Spencer; and seven grandchildren.  Three brothers and a sister preceded him in death.

Out of town people who came to attend the services were: Charles Breitenstein, Chicago; Carl Eiden, Melvin Breitenstein, George Breitenstein, Mrs. Grace Burdan, Robert, Mabel and Katherine Breitenstein, Stevens Point; Myron Breitenstein and Mrs. Salina Brown, Wausau; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Seibert and children, Neillsville; Mr. and Mrs. Verlan Snowberg, Bensenville, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hupe, Lombard, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. William Thomson, Mr. and Mrs. Loy Rayhorn and family, and DR. and Mrs. H. L. Laessig, Marshfield; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Saveland, Green Bay; George Martin, Baraboo; Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Justman, Unity; and Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Tasse, Bakerville.