Obit: Colby, William O. (1887 – 1968)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Colby, Glidden, Lange, Nixdorf, Dray

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 18 Jan 1968

Colby, William O. (14 FEB 1887 – 10 JAN 1968)

Funeral services were conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. for William O. Colby Sr., 80, at the Polnaszek Funeral Home, Abbotsford.

Mr. Colby died Wednesday at the Veteran's Hospital at Madison where he had been a patient. He had been in ill health for some time.

The Rev. Charles Glidden, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Abbotsford, officiated at the services, and burial was made in the Abbotsford Cemetery. Graveside rites were conducted by members of the Abbotsford Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Pallbearers were Don Ingersoll, Ed Engelking, Leo Underwood, Art Nagel, Ralph Bargenquast and Ed Wiesenberger.

Mr. Colby was born in the Colby-Unity area Feb. 14, 1887. He received his education in area schools, and later moved to Abbotsford. During World War I he served with the U.S. Army in France.

His marriage to Hermie Colby took place at Winona, Minn., May 25, 1902. She preceded him in death in 1952.

Mr. Colby's public service included eight years on the Abbotsford Village Board, and he also served as a supervisor on the Marathon Abbotsford Masonic Lodge for over 50 years, and was also a member of the Medford lodge. Mr. Colby was also active in two veterans organizations, Knaack-Thompson Post 865 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Abbotsford, and the local barracks of the Veterans of World War I.

Surviving are three sons, William and Leonard, Abbotsford, and Don, Portage, and three daughters, Mrs. Julius (Wilma) Lange, Abbotsford, Mrs. Walter (Lorna) Nixdorf, Dorchester, and Mrs. Melvin (Joyce) Dray, Medford. There are 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by a son and a daughter.