Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Hohl, Myhrwold, Cline, Wisth, Bartelt, Ellingson
----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 28 Feb 1963
Life has its ups and downs. Just about the time a person thinks he's doing okay, something comes along and knocks him flat on his back. And just about the time you think you have come to the end of your rope, someone gives you a lift which puts a whole new slant on everything. That is what happened to Fritz Hohl in 1953, in the fall. One cold morning, seven years of work went up in smoke. Fritz and his brother lost their radiator shop and garage in a fire. That was when they found they had friends, and Fritz never forgot the experience.
First of all, American Motors encourage them to rebuild. But then the businessmen in town donated their labor to get the building up and roofed-n, so that they could get back into business. In fact, they were selling gasoline from the pumps three days after the fire.
Fitz has had born ups and downs in life. His mother's brother urged Fritz's parents to leave Switzerland and come to the land of opportunity, and work for him. The arrangement did not work out, hover, when they came to Blanchardville. So, when Fritz was two years old his folks left Blanchardville and came to Greenwood (Clark Co., Wis.) on the railroad. It was winter, and they bought a "good" farm, all covered with snow. When the snow left, they found plenty of rocks, land to break – lots of good hard work.
Fitz and Luella Cline were married in 1932, and tried farming on the John Wisth place, northeast of Greenwood. It was during the depression, and they became disillusioned with farming. When the CWA program was inaugurated, Fritz went to construction work, and stayed with it for twelve year. Then he worked on the road three years for Allis-Chalmers.
His brother Walt came back from military service in 1946, and together they opened a radiator repair shop. After three years they built their own building, which burned in 1953. It was then that they discovered what a community can mean to people.
Fritz is a Rotarian, and has served as both vice-president and president of the local Rotary Club. He believes in the principles of Rotary – that thoughts, words and actions should conform to the tests of TRUTH, FAIRNESS, GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIP, and BENEFICIALITY TO ALL CONCERNED.
Gladys (Mrs. Bob Bartelt), Nancy (Mrs. Don Ellingson), and David call him "Dad." Six youngsters call him "Grandpa." Warm human, engaged in the struggle to keep his head above water while going through the ups and downs – that is Fritz Hohl.
