Bio: Schmidtke, Bill (Granton Citizen of the Year – 1970)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Schmidtke, Welch

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Loyal, Wis.) 27 Aug 1970

Bill Schmidtke, Granton (Clark Co., Wis.), retired village treasurer, will be honored as "Citizen of the Year" at the Granton Fall Festival sept. 11, 12 and 13. This is an honor conferred annually by the Granton Rotary Club and Granton Future Farmers, sponsors of the festival.

Born in 1894 in the town of Fremont (Clark Co.) to Mr. and Mrs. Herman Schmidtke, he attended Cozy Corner School, and then he worked on farms until her served in World War I. After 90 days of basic training, he was shipped to France and took part in the Battle of Argonne, where he was wounded with shrapnel in his legs. Her served 11 1/2 months in the Army and was discharged as a wounded veteran.

In 1921 he was married to Esther Welch, and they moved to Granton, where he operated a fuel and oil business for 27 years. He was forced to sell in 1949 when he lost his hearing in one ear. He then operated an insurance agency until three years ago when he sold to the Clark County Agency in Neillsville.

His wife, Esther, was honored as the Citizen of the Year in Granton in 1961 and newspaper clipping said "For 22 years she has been our lady school board member and for 40 years she has taught Sunday school in the Methodist Church." Since then, she has retired from both jobs.

Mr. Schmidtke has given many hours to the village and to the people in the area, and never expected any pay. Seldom would he turn in a bill. For years he has taken care of the custodian duties of the Granton Village Library, and until recently was custodian of the local Methodist Church.