Obit: Klay, Chris J. (1894 – 1977)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Klay, Yaggie, Whiteside, Baehr, Petke, Hansen, Hanson, Alborodo

---------Source: Owen Enterprise (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 23 Mar 1977

Klay, Chris J. (16 Jun 1894 – 18 Mar 1977)

Chris J. Klay, 82, Withee, died of an apparent heart attack about 11 a.m. Friday, March 18, 1977 at his home.

Services were held at 3 p.m. Monday at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Withee, with Rev. Lloyd Yaggie, pastor, officiating. Burial was made in Riverside Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers, were Gerry, Rick, Allan and Chris Klay, Anson Alborodo, Mark Whiteside and David Baehr. Rendering the singing for the funeral was Mrs. Erna Petke, with Louis Hansen playing the organ.

Mr. Klay was born June 16, 1894 in Bern, Switzerland, and married the former Esther Hanson on September 23, 1922, at Valley City, N.D. He came to the United States at the age of 19 and settled at Glen Flora, Wisconsin.

He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, taking a short course in cheese making. He operated a cheese factory at Glen Flora and at Walters Corners, rural Withee, known at the Oak Grove Cheese Factory.

He also farmed in the Town of Hixon from 1945 until 1972, when he moved to the village of Withee.

He was a member of Nazareth Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Joh, Cadott, and Walt, Owen; a daughter, mrs. Norman (Esther) Baehr, Mosinee; a brother, Herman, and a sister, Clara, both living in Switzerland; 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

A son and 11 brothers and sisters preceded him in death.