Obit: Hediger, Herman, Jr. #2 (1932 - 2016)

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

Surnames: Hediger, Harder, Buettner, Crawford, Montgomery, Kurasz, Schumacher, Tetzlaff, Opelt, Schroeder, Knoop

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 1/27/2016

Hediger, Herman, Jr. (8 May 1932 - 23 January 2016) With Flag

Herman Hediger, Jr., 83, of Neillsville passed away peacefully Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. He was born May 8, 1932, in Christie to Herman and Hanna (Harder) Hediger Sr. he attended elementary school in Christie and then went to Neillsville Public Schools where he graduated in 1951. He attended the University of Wisconsin, earning his short-course degree as a cheesemaker. Herman joined the Army in May 1956 and was stationed in Germany, receiving an honorable discharge in March 1958. In November 1956, he married Charlotte Buettner. They later divorced but remained very close.

He led an extraordinary life with a strong work ethic. He was a cheesemaker for Hediger Dairy. He drove semi for and later became owner/operator of Christie Milk Transport accumulating over 3 million miles driven across the U. S. As president of the Wisconsin Independent Truckers’ Association, he was instrumental in legislative reform in the trucking industry in the mid-70s at both state and federal levels. He helped start the truck driving training school at District One Technical Institute (now CVTC) in Eau Claire, as well as serving on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Advisory Board. He traveled extensively across the U. S., Europe and Australia; wrote two books; worked with wood, building many things from cedar and barn boards; and enjoyed music, reading, writing and spending time with family.

He is survived by his children: Lucretia (JS) Crawford of Sheboygan, Ernst Hediger of Neillsville, Loleta “Punk” (Bill) Montgomery of Granton, Erika Kurasz of Neillsville, Clara Hediger of Granton, Heidi Hediger of Sheboygan, Crispin (Lisa) Hediger of Neillsville and Lydia (Ron) Schumacher of Neillsville; his ex-wife, Charlotte (David) Tetzlaff of Neillsville; siblings: Hanna (Bernie) Opelt of DePere, Meg (Art) Schroeder of Corvallis, MT, Rosie (Bob) Knoop and Fritz (Dixie) Hediger of Neillsville; 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Kurt; an infant brother; and a great-grandchild.

Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016, family and friends will gather at Gesche Funeral home in Neillsville at 2 p.m. for visitation with a Memorial Service at 4 p.m. Military Honors will follow the service. Herman chose to be cremated with a private interment at a later date.

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