Obit: Parsons, Martin H. (1898 - 1958)

Contact: Linda Mertens
Email: mertens@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Parsons, Sprengler, Jantsch, Johnson, Bender, Viegut, Klothe, Heibl, Weiher, ) Rozmenski, Fritsche, Mader, Kieper


----Source - Anna Johnson's Scrapbook

Martin H. Parsons (12 Mar 1898 - 14 Dec 1958)

Funeral rites for Martin H. Parsons, 60, who died Sunday, were held Wednesday, Dec. 17, from St Peter’s Lutheran church here. The Rev. F. H. Sprengler, pastor, officiated at the services at 2 PM. Herbert Juneau of Abbotsford played organ music, and sang “The Lord’s Prayer” and “Heaven is my Home” at the service.

Interment was in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers were Leonard Jantsch, Glen Johnson, Melvin Bender, Clarence Viegut, Jr., Lester Klothe and Lawrence Heibl. All are employees of the Cloverdale Cheese Factory which the deceased had owned and operated for 33 years.

Mr. Parsons had enjoyed excellent health until recent months. Then he began suffering illnesses for which were obscure, and he entered University Hospital, Madison Dec. 1 for a thorough check and diagnosis. It was found there that the cause was a tumor on his brain, and he didn’t survive surgery for its removal. He died in the hospital about 3:20 PM Sunday, Dec. 14.

Martin Herman Parsons was born March 12, 1898 in Antigo, where he was reared and attended school. At the age of 17 he established a cheese factory in that community, and from that time cheese-making was his life’s work. He and Anna Weiher were married Oct 25, 1922 at Antigo.
His Antigo business grew to two cheese factories before he bought the Cloverdale Cheese Factory in the town of Holton in 1925. That same year the Parsons family moved to the new business and has resided there since.

His cheeses were awarded prizes in exhibits over a wide area for many years. He was a member of the Central Wisconsin Cheesemakers and Buttermakers Association for many years, serving the organization as secretary-treasurer for 12 years, and president for two. Also a member of the Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association, he was a member of its board of directors at the time of his death.

He served on the Bruckerville school board for 12 years, was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran church, member and officer of the St. Peter’s Men’s Club, and a charter member of the Dorchester Lions Club.

He is survived by his widow, and two daughters, Mrs. Henry (Elaine) Rozmenski and Mrs. Ray (Doris) Fritsche, both of Wausau, and eight grandchildren.

Also surviving are five brothers, Max Parsons of Bryant, Leonard, Walter, Glenford, and Gregory Parsons, all of Antigo; and two sisters, Mrs. Myron Mader and Mrs. Reinhart Kieper, both of Antigo. A mother and a sister preceded him in death.