Obit: Schmidtke, Alton D. “Tony” (1923 - 2016)

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

Surnames: Schmidtke, Kreiger, Bohn, Kohel, Scheel, Kippenhan, Cram, Hillert, Dankemyer, Wehe, Elpert

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/03/2016

Schmidtke, Alton D. “Tony” (29 December 1923 - 27 July 2016) With Flag

Alton “Tony” D. Schmidtke, 92, of Neillsville died Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at the Neillsville Care and Rehab Center.

Tony was born Dec. 29, 1923, in the Town of Fremont, Clark County, the son of Paul and Anna (Kreiger) Schmidtke. After finishing his schooling in Granton, he began hauling canned milk, which he did for many years. He enlisted in the United States Army and served from 1949 to 1950. Tony then went to work as a cheesemaker and was very proud that he achieved his cheesemaker’s license.

He was united in marriage to Hilda (Bohn) Kohel Sept. 25, 1954, at Auburndale. Together they purchased and ran Tony and Hilda’s Midtown Bar in Granton. He also trucked cattle for the Granton Livestock Sales Barn during those years. Hilda died April 14, 1986.

He was united in marriage to Julia (Scheel) Kippenhan April 22, 1987, at Greenwood. She died March 10, 2001.

Tony drove truck for REA Express for many years and then went to work for Seal-Store Silo Company building silos.

Tony loved to bowl, and after his retirement, he loved to go fishing, play cards and dominoes and spend time with his family. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Missouri Synod Church in Granton.

He will be greatly missed by a special friend of 14-plus years, Evelyn Cram of Neillsville; daughters: Carol (David) Hillert of Granton and Delores Dankemyer of Chili; a son, Charles (Carol) Kohel of Edgar; nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers: Larry (Karen) Schmidtke of Adams and Donald (Doreen) Schmidtke of Odebolt, IA.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents; his wives: Hilda and Julia; sisters: Alice (Gene) Wehe and Carmen (Oswald) Elpert; a brother in infancy; and a son-in-law, William “Billy” Dankemyer.

As per Tony’s wishes, there will be a private family interment at the Greenwood Cemetery in Auburndale at a later date.

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