Obit: Brantner, Robert Donald (1939 - 1973)

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

Surnames: Brantner, Kroening, Noy, McDonnough, Lehnertz, Daly

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 12/20/1973

Brantner, Robert Donald (31 March 1939 - 14 December 1973)

Funeral services were to be held Wednesday morning from St. Felix Catholic Church, Wabasha, Minn., for Robert Donald Brantner, 34, owner and operator of the Neillsville A&W Root Beer stand.

According to Clark County authorities, he died at approximately 4:45 p.m. Friday as the result of a self-inflicted bullet wound in the right temple. His body was found later that afternoon in his four-wheel vehicle parked just inside Schuster Park.

The Rosary was recited Monday evening at the Georgas Funeral Home, where the body of Mr. Brantner was in state until taken to the Rhiel Funeral Home in Durand Tuesday to lie in state there after 2 p.m. A prayer service was scheduled for Tuesday evening. Father Daly was to officiate at services Wednesday, and burial was to be made in Oakwood Cemetery at Pepin.

Robert D. Brantner was born March 31, 1939, at Durand and was educated in Pepin schools and at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. As a member of the Wisconsin National Guard, he was commissioned a lieutenant at the Military Academy in Madison.

His marriage to the former Helen Kroening took place August 25, 1962, at Wabasha, Mn. The Brantners, who came to Neillsville in May, owned and operated an A&W business at Pepin for five years.

Mr. Brantner was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, of The Neillsville Lions Club, and of the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, area daughter, Lynelle, at home; his parents, Robert John and Norma (Noy) Brantner of Pepin; three sisters, Mrs. Charles (Katherine) McDonnough of Greenbush, Mi., Miss Connie Brantner and Mrs. Roberta Lehnertz of Pepin; and three brothers: Gerald, Donald and Allen Brantner, all of Pepin.