Obit: Franzmeier, Paul H. – Rev. (1903 – 1960)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Franzmeier, Gosse, Humke, Egbert, Nass, Baumer, De Buhr, Krueger, Burrichter, Koch, Vriesen, Menger, Vornhold, Seigel, Chesney, Grupe, Isell

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 04 Feb 1960

Franzmeier, Paul H. – Rev. (19 APR 1903 – 26 JAN 1960)

Rev. Paul H. Franzmeier, son of Carl and Charlotte (Gosse) Franzmeier, was born April 19, 1903 at Newton (Manitowoc County), Wisconsin. He was baptized by Rev. D.W. Vriesen on May 31st, 1903, and was confirmed March 29, 1918, and was given the memory verse 2nd Timothy 3:16.

Rev. Franzmeier entered the Mission House Academy and College in 1918 and graduated from the college in 1926. In the fall of 1926 he entered the Seminary and graduated with a B.D. degree in 1929 by the Rev. E.H. Verhold, assisted by the Rev. E.R. Menger.

On January 21, 1931 he was united in holy wedlock with Miss Esther R. Humke. To this union two sons, Richard and Donald, were born.

Rev. Franzmeier remained at his first pastorate for 14 years. From 1943 to 1953 he served the Evangelical and Reformed Church at New Albin, Iowa. St. Peter's Congregation erected a splendid modern church there under his guidance.

Rev. Franzmeier entered the service of his present and last parish in 1953. Both churches of his last charge have made extensive improvements under his guidance.

Last summer he became ill. What at first seemed only a minor ailment proved to be malignant.

Rev. Franzmeier passed away at the Waconia, Minnesota Hospital on January 26, 1960, at the age of 56 years, 9 months and 7 days. He was preceded in death by his wife, Esther, who died on December 10, 1956, one brother and two sisters. Surviving are his son Richard and wife Gertrude, and 2 grandchildren, Richfield, Minn., and Donald, a student at Michigan State University Graduate School, East Lansing, Mich. Two sisters, Meta and Mrs. Ed (Hulda) Nass, Manitowoc, and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at Norwood, Minn. on January 28, with Rev. Otto Vriesen, a lifelong friend, conducting the services. He was assisted by Rev. John Seigel, Faribault, Minn., Rev. Roy Chesney, Young America, Minn., Rev. C. Grupe, St. Cloud, Minn., and Rev. Fred Isell, Norwood, Minn. The body was then brought to the Hill Funeral Home (Greenwood Clark Co., Wis.) and services were conducted at the West Side United Church of Christ at 2 p.m. on January 29th. The Rev. Orval Egbert officiated. Ministers attending were Dr. Arthur Krueger, president of Lakeland College and Mission House Seminary; Dr. Harry Baumer, pastor at West Bend and member of the Board of Regents of Mission House; Rev. Edmund De Buhr, St. John's, New Albin, Iowa; Rev. B. Burrichter, St. Peter's, New Albin, Iowa; and Rev. Charles Koch, pastor, New Holstein, Wis.

Pallbearers were Armin Luttchens, Carl Vonderahe and John Weimerslage, New Albin, Iowa; and Arno Miller, Clayton Braun and Arthur Morrison, West Side Church.

The men's' chorus of West Side Church sang "Make Me a Captive Lord" and "Oh Love That Will not Let Me Go." Rev. Franzmeier was laid to rest beside his wife in the West Side Cemetery of Immanuel United Church of Christ.

The Minnesota Council of Churches has established the Rev. Paul Franzmeier Memorial Fund in his honor to be used in connection with the Town and Country Church Work.