Obit: Vinger, Palmer #2 (1897 - 1964)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Vinger, Olson, Kavanaugh, Thompson, Robinson, Strand, Ragetz, Myhrwold

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) May 21, 1964

Vinger, Palmer (8 August 1897 - 14 May 1964)

Funeral services were held in Greenwood Monday afternoon for Palmer Vinger, 66, widely-known realtor and insurance agent who died last Thursday afternoon in a Rochester, Minn., hospital.  Mr. Vinger had been in poor health for some time and was suffering from heart trouble. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church was crowded for the funeral over which the Rev. Arvid Myhrwold officiated.

A resident of Clark County since 1918, Mr. Vinger entered the insurance business in 1919, and two years later moved to Greenwood, where he maintained his office and home since. A tireless worker throughout his business career, he spent endless hours on the road - from early morning to late night - for many years building up his insurance and real estate business.

Vinger signs are common on the roads leading to Greenwood.  One of them asserts, "We sell the earth - and insure what’s on it."

Born in Argyle on August 8, 1897, Mr. Vinger received his early formal education there.  On December 5, 1917, he was married to Lydia Olson, who survives.  Shortly afterward they moved onto a farm west of Colby and remained there until moving to Greenwood in 1921.

Mr. Vinger organized and served as secretary-treasurer of the National Farm Loan Association; and later organized the Badger State Credit Company in 1936, of which he was secretary-treasurer at the time of his death.

He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Greenwood; the Masonic Lodge; a charter member of the Greenwood Rotary Club; a charter member of the Cloverbelt Board of Realtors; National Association of Real Estate Brokers; Accredited Farm Brokers; National Association of Insurance Agents; and the Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin.

In addition to Mrs. Vinger, he is survived by: two daughters, Mrs. William (Vivian) Kavanaugh and Mrs. Richard (Shirley) Thompson, both of Greenwood; four brothers, Victor Vinger of Stanley, Chester Vinger of Argyle, Gerhardt Vinger of Minneapolis, Minn., and Malcomb Vinger of New Prague, Minn.; and by three sisters, Mrs. Clarence (Lulu) Robinson of Broadview, Ill., Mrs. O. J. (Marie) Strand of Hollandale, and Mrs. Ed (Hazel) Ragetz of Stanley.  Four grandchildren also survive.