Obit: Hoeft, Earnest (1889 - 1944)
Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Hoeft, Griffiths, Westphal, Denzine, Bucholz, Dudley, Burek, Schultz, Hackel

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 28 Dec. 1944

Hoeft, Earnest (Nov. 1889 - 23 Dec. 1944)

Funeral services for Earnest Hoeft, 55, who was found frozen in a field, south west of Milan, Saturday morning, were held Tuesday afternoon at the Zink Funeral home, with the Rev. G. E. Griffiths officiating. Burial was made in the Town of Holton cemetery.

The pallbearers were nephews of the deceased: Otto Westphal, Chicago; Edward Westphal and Delbert Denzine, Milan; Donald Denzine, Gilbert and Vernon Westphal, Town of Holton.

Earnest Hoeft was born in November, 1889, in the Town of Holton. His parents preceded him in death many years ago.

Mr. Hoeft, who was a bachelor, made his home with Gustav and Miss Mary Bucholz, when not employed elsewhere, as he was a laborer at various types of work.

He left the Bucholz home Friday, about 11:30 with the intention of going to Dorchester in search of work and went across the field toward Milan. He suffered a heart attack about 20 rods from the road and was not discovered until Saturday morning about 11:00 o’clock when his frozen and lifeless body was found.

Sheriff R. J. Dudley and Dr. A. Burek, Marathon county coroner, were notified.

He is survived by one brother, Albert, of the town of Johnson, and one sister, Mrs. Otto (Amanda) Denzine, of Prentice.

Among those who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Otto Denzine, Prentice; Leo Denzine, Perkinstown; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Denzine, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schultz, Mrs. August Westphal, William Westphal and family, Otto and William Hackel, all of the Town of Holton; Otto Westphal, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Otto Hoeft and Miss Elsie Hoeft, Abbotsford.