Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

November 4, 2009, Front Page

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Hedemark set to become a centenarian

Neillsville resident Frank Hedemark, who turns 100 Nov. 12, poses at his Neillsville home.  Above  Hedemark is a painting he drew and has displayed at his home.  (Photo by Peter Spicer/Clark County Press)

By Peter Spicer

Neillsville resident Frank Hedemark has lived through both world wars, the start of two centuries and continues to keep active as he approaches 100.

Hedemark, 99, has lived in the area for the last 35 years and plans to celebrate his 100^th birthday Thursday, Nov. 12.  He was born in 1909 and grew up on the northwest side of Chicago, IL, where he began working at a meat market at age 10.

Hedemark was paid $2.50 per week, and he placed his earnings in a savings account but eventually lost that money when banks went under during the Great Depression.

One day during the Prohibition era, Hedemark and his friends went running to the site of a gunfight that broke out to view the action close up.  Gangsters were on one side of a street in an apartment complex and were shooting across the street at police who were in an apartment complex on the other side of the street.

Once the gunfire ceased and the fight ended in a draw, Hedemark and his friends returned home.

Hedemark, who still drives a car, got his start driving at an early age.  His father, who worked as a tool and die maker purchased the family’s first car - a used 1917 Lexington - and asked 13-year-old Frank to drive the family to Wisconsin. 

With no driver’s license needed at the time, Hedemark drove his family, which included his parents, two sisters and one brother, from Chicago to Fence, a town north of Green Bay, where his father’s cousin resided.

After graduating from an all-boy’s high school in Chicago, Hedemark worked for a company that assembled radios.  Hedemark stated he and his father were fortunate to have jobs through the Great Depression. During World War II, the company assembled radios for the U. S. Navy.

Hedemark moved with his wife, Olga, to the Greenwood area in 1946 to try dairy farming. Olga, who passed away three years ago, was born in Willard and had many relatives in the area.

However, Hedemark soon discovered farming wasn’t for him.  "I didn’t do too well," Hedemark said with a smile.

Hedemark came down with a fever, which lasted two months.  Frank and Olga soon moved back to Chicago, where he began working in quality control for a television tuner manufacturer.

The company exported television tuners to Canada and in 1948, Hedemark was asked to run a sales and service department in Toronto.  Hedemark agreed to the move and enjoyed living in Canada, where he golfed and bowled square danced and met many great people.

Hedemark lived in Canada for 17 years before retiring and moving to Rock Dam, where he and Olga owned a cottage.

After living in Rock Dam for 18 years, Hedemark then moved to Neillsville, where he’s lived for the last 18 years.

At age 88, Hedemark golfed his age (he shot an 88) while living in Wisconsin, he traveled to Florida each year with Olga for 25 years and enjoyed golfing in the Sunshine State.

During golfing season, Hedemark hits the links once each week with two friends of nine holes of golf.  He also works out on a treadmill and stationary bike at his home.  Hedemark displays several of the paintings he completed throughout his home.

Hedemark, who attends Living Hope Evangelical Free Church, is looking forward to a 100^th birthday celebration with friends and family at Fannie’s Supper Club in Neillsville, which will be attended by approximately 100, including one friend from Canada and several relatives from California.