Obit: Luchterhand, Earl Elder (1925 - 2015)

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

Surnames: Luchterhand, Faucher, Johnson, Schreindl, Haggerty, Dahl, Welshonse

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/06/2015

Luchterhand, Earl Elder (19 August 1925 - 30 April 2015)

Earl Luchterhand, 89, of Neillsville died Thursday, April 30, 2015, at the Neillsville Care and Rehabilitation Center.

Earl Elder Luchterhand was born Aug. 19, 1925 in Marshfield, the son of Elder and Josephine (Faucher) Luchterhand. He graduated from Loyal High school in 1943 and then farmed on the home farm and operated his own canned milk route, hauling for the Gruenke Cheese Factory. In 1947, the crops were done early in this area so he went with a thrashing crew to South Dakota. It was there he met Sylvia Johnson. They were united in marriage Nov. 14, 1948, at the Tabor Church in Webster, SD. After their wedding, they moved to Neillsville and rented a farm one and one-half miles north of Christie. In 1950, they then purchased their farm in the Town of York and farmed there until their son, Glen, and his wife, Virginia, purchased it from them in 1977. Along with farming, Earl also worked at Weyerhaeuser in Marshfield for 22 years, retiring in 1988.

He was a member of the Zion American Evangelical Lutheran Church in Granton. In retirement, he worked part-time at Figi’s in Neillsville. Earl also enjoyed fishing, family vacations to Lac Des Mille Lodge, playing cards, especially Sheepshead, driving tractor, working in the woods and in his younger years, hunting.

He is survived by seven children: Eileen Schreindl of Neillsville, Armon (Mary) Luchterhand of Neillsville, Jeffrey (Angie) Luchterhand of Alma Center, Charlene (Dean) Haggerty of Merrill, Dennis (Deb) Luchterhand of Edgerton, Glen (Virginia) Luchterhand of Neillsville, and Terry (Diane) Luchterhand of Spencer; 20 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild; and a brother, Donald (Sophie) Luchterhand of Hayden, ID.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia, in January of 2015; a son, Howard, in 1969; and his parents.

A memorial service for Earl will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at the Zion American Evangelical Lutheran Church, W2840 Hill Rd. Granton. Pastor Jay Welshonse will officiate. Music will be provided by Marjorie Dahl, organist. Interment will be in the Zion American Church Cemetery. Visitation was from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a 7:30 prayer service, Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville and will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, at the church.

Honorary casket bearers will be all of Earl’s grandchildren

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Earl’s family with funeral arrangements.