Obit: Heidtke, Otto (1880 - 1952)

Contact: Linda Mertens
Email: mertens@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Heidtke, Sprengler, Beisner, Hollman, Bitter, Waldhart, Raasch, Doberstein, Foley, Fuchgruber, Tepolt, Kronschnabl, Grimm, Ellingston, Walter, Marquardt, Schwede, Laube

----Source - Anna Johnson’s Scrapbook

Otto Heidtke (25 March 1880 - 1952)

The Rev. F. H. Sprengler, pastor, officiated at funeral services for Otto Heidtke, 72, in St. Peter’s Lutheran church here (Dorchester, Clark Co., WI) at 10 a. m. Tuesday, April 1, and at committal rites in Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls, the same day. Pallbearers were Albert Beisner, Frank Hollman, Harvey Bitter, Herman Waldhart, Reinhard Raasch, and John Doberstein. Fuchsgruber Funeral Service had charge of arrangements.

Mr. Heidtke was found dead at his home about 7 p. m. March 28, and Dr. Foley and E. J. Fuchsgruber, health officer, agreed that he had died of a heart attack up to about 24 hours previously. Frank Tepolt who resides in the same building and where Mr. Heidtke also conducted a shoe repair business, reported to Milton Kronschnabl, village constable, last Friday evening that he missed Mr. Heidtke’s normal movements about the place. The constable and his brother Max thereupon forced the door, locked from the inside, to the sleeping room and discovered the death.

Otto R. B. Heidtke was born March 25, 1880, in Pommeran, Germany, and came to this country at an early age with his parents. He attended Chippewa Falls schools, and in early manhood worked in lumber yards in the general area of that city. Later he was employed at a shoe factory there for several years. In 1906 at Cadott, he was married to Frieda Grimm, who died several years later, and in 1917 he married Esther Bitter of Curtiss, who also preceded him in death. In 1918 he moved his family to this village, where he established the shoe repair business which he conducted until his death. He was a faithful member of St. Peter’s Lutheran congregation throughout his residence here.

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Clifford (Mildred) Ellingson, Stetsonville; Mrs. Dorothy Walter, Bloomer; Mrs. Darrel Marquardt, New Auburn; two sons, Walter Heidtke, Cadott, and Werner Heidtke, St. Louis, Mo.; 19 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. A brother and sister, Herman Schwede and Mrs. B. H. Laube, Chippewa Falls, also survive. A son and daughter, Harold and Loretta, preceded him in death.