Obit: Bertz, James (1899 - 1970)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Bertz, Bichler, Shefchik, Broun, King

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 2/19/1970

Bertz, James (17 August 1899 - 1970)

James Bertz, 70, of Loyal, died suddenly Monday of an apparent heart attack while at the Stratford stockyards.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today (Thursday) from St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Loyal with burial in the parish cemetery. The Rev. Norbert E. King will officiate. The Roycraft Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Rosary services were held Wednesday, P. C. C. W. rosary at 3 p.m.; fourth degree Knights of Columbus at 7:30 p.m.; and the parish rosary at 9 p.m.

Mr. Bertz was born August 17, 1899, in Loyal. At the age of nine he moved with his parents to Colorado, returning to Loyal three years later. In 1928, he purchased his father’s farm. On May 29, 1928, he was married to Hedwig Bichler. She died in 1951. On June 23, 1955, he was married to Irene Shefchik. She died January 21, of this year.

In the late 1930’s Mr. Bertz started a livestock business in feeder pigs. In 1947 he added cattle and sold farm machinery, later selling the machinery business. He was an insurance salesman and a seed corn representative in this area. He also was an appraiser for a bank in Loyal; treasurer of St. Anthony’s Church for the last 35 years, and was elected several times as a delegate to the Democratic conventions.

He was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, a charter member of Our lady of Fatima Council, and a member of the fourth degree of Father Eisen Assembly of Marshfield.

Mr. Bertz is survived by a son, James Jr., at home; a daughter, Mary Frances at home; and a step-son, Alois Broun of Neillsville.