Obit: Laffe, Fred #2 (1897 - 1946)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Laffe, Vinton, Haag, Iffland

----Source: Humbird Enterprise (Humbird, Clark Co., Wis.) 01/12/1946

Laffe, Fred #2 (7 SEP 1897 - 1 JAN 1946)

Frederick Andrew Laffe was born in Humbird (Clark Co., Wis.), Sept. 7, 1897, youngest child of George and Louisa E. Laffe.  He attended school and grew to manhood here.  In the summer of 1916 he enlisted with the Humbird group, in Co. A., 3^rd Wis. Vol. Inf. Of Neillsville, and when the troops were called into service, went with them to the Mexican border, and was on guard duty with the regiment at Two Harbors, Minn., in 1917.  The regiment went to France, February 1918, and became a part of the famous Red Arrow Division.  He saw service at Chateau Thierry, Aisne Marne, Meuse Argonne, and Olse Aisne fronts, followed by the army occupation in Germany.  He returned home on May 22, 1919.

Mr. Laffe united in marriage with Miss Hallie Vinton Sept. 25, 1925, and to this union was born one son, Frederick, with the U.S. Army, now a patient of Schick General Hospital at Clinton, Iowa; and two daughters, Katherine and Henrietta.

He entered the employ of the Omaha Ry. As freight brakeman in 1925, and since 1944 has held a run as conductor.  At the time of his sudden death at Knapp, in the early morning hours of Jan. 1^st, 1946, from a heart attack, his residence was in Eau Claire.  He attained the age of 47 years, 4 months and 24 days.

Surviving, besides his family, are his mother, three brothers, Louis G., Leonard J., and Henry E.; and two sisters, Mrs. Emma Haag, and Mrs. Mary Iffland.

Relatives from out of town attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Laffe and family, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Iffland, New London; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Haag, Melrose; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Laffe, Black River Falls; and Mr. and Mrs. Dan Timmerson, Christie.

Funeral rites were held at the mortuary in Fairchild and at the Evangelical and Reformed Church in this village last Friday afternoon.  Pallbearers were his comrades, Anton Bergman, Henry Collins, A.D. Fradenburg, E.W. Johnson, A.L. Sparkes, and R.J. Stuve.

The Rev. N.J. Dechant, who officiated at the service, used as his theeme, "But a Step, then Death," from the text in I Samuel 20:3, "There is but a step between me and death," and a very appropriate part in his sermon was the reading of the words of the hymn, "Life’s Railway to Heaven," "What a Wonderful Savior," "Sometime We’ll Understand," and "Nearer My God to Thee," were sung by Mrs. Waters and Mrs. Smith, with Mrs. Will Theiler accompanist.  N.S. Fristad, as chaplain of the American Legion post, presented the flag from the casket of the deceased veteran to the sorrowing family, and his former comrades of the First World War fired the volleys over the grave in Mentor Cemetery.  The notes of the burgle sounded "Taps" as the mortal remains were consigned to their final resting place.