Obit: Staab, John (1881 - 1953)

Contact: Linda Mertens
Email: mertens@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Staab, Hayden, Brickl, Schulz, Fuchsgruber, Gonnering, Hollman, Younker, Goessl, Schreiber, Geiger, Johnson, Plockelman, Wechorek, Grinkerwich, Lang, Hermanson, Metz

----Source - Anna Johnson's Scrapbook

John Staab (21 Aug 1881 – 23 Oct 1953)

Funeral services for John Staab, 72, who died Oct. 23, were held from St. Louis Catholic Church here (Dorchester, Clark Co., WI) Monday. The Very Rev. Msgr. Thomas F. Hayden, pastor, officiated at the 9:30 a.m. rites, with Rev. Father Brickl, Colby, and the Rev. Father Schulz, Abbotsford, assisting.

Burial was in Dorchester Memorial cemetery under the direction of Fuchsgruber Funeral Services which was in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers were Clarence Gonnering, Frank Hollman, Anton Younker, Irving Goessl, David Schreiber, Joe Geiger, Ernest Johnson, and Carl Plockelman. Harold Wechorek, Marshfield, was honorary pallbearer.

Mr. Staab enjoyed good health until last March, when he suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized for several weeks. His condition improved and he was active about his usual routine until Oct. 13 when a recurrence sent him back to the hospital twice this month, and he died in St. Joseph’s hospital, Marshfield, at 1:50 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, of complications aggravated by his heart condition.

The deceased lay in state at the home of his son, Bernard, from Saturday afternoon until time of funeral rites Monday. There a rosary services by the Holy Name Society members was held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and a general Rosary was held in the evening. Mr. Staab was an active member of the Holy Name Society and a life-long member of the Catholic Church.

John Staab was born Aug. 21, 1881, in the village of Dorchester, one of the first white children to be born here, in a log cabin just west of the present resident of Mr. and Mrs. William Grinkerwich. He attended Hilltop school when it was located where the John Lang farm now is, and after it was moved to its present location.

He and Margaret Metz were married June 5, 1906, and resided on the old Staab farm, where Leslie Staab now lives, and later moved to the farm now operated by their son Edward. They farmed it until retirement about six and a half years ago, when they built a home in the village, where they have since resided. Until last spring, Mr. Staab had worked regularly with his son, Bernard, in his cabinet-making business here.

Surviving are his widow; three sons, Leonard, Milwaukee; Bernard and Edward, Dorchester; a daughter, Mrs. Arve (Mary) Hermanson, Brook, Ind., and 12 grandchildren. Two brothers and three sisters preceded him in death. The children were all here for their father’s funeral.