Obit: Flader/Fladder, Fred (1895 – 1974)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Flader, LePage, Nagy, Sorenson, Groenewold, Stegeman, Ball

---------Source: Owen Enterprise (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 14 Nov 1974

Flader, Fred (9 JUL 1895 – NOV 1974)

(* Note – Riverside Cemetery listing says Fladder)

The body of Fred Flader, 79, was found in an old farm building at his farm, two miles north of Withee (Clark Co., Wis.) on County Trunk T Saturday afternoon. The discovery was made by Art LePage, Withee’s Police Chief, and county authorities.

Friday, LePage and county investigator visited the farm, when LePage had been told by rural mail carrier, George Sorenson, that Flader’s mail hadn’t been removed from the mail box for two days. They were turned back by a pack of seven dogs, who wouldn’t let them near the buildings. Then on Saturday, the children of Mrs. Dale Ball, neighbors to Flader, told Police Chief LePage that something was wrong at the home, as they hadn’t seen Flader in several days, and they noticed the lights on all the time in the house trailer in which he lived.

When LePage and county authorities visited the farm home again Saturday afternoon they were confronted again by the dogs, but entered the house trailer and didn’t find Flader. They made their way to a nearby building on the farm and were again threatened by the dogs. However, when they entered the building they did find Flader’s body, but had to destroy two of the dogs before they could get to it.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 12, 1974, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Withee, with pastor Douglas R. Groenewold officiating. Burial was made at Riverside Cemetery.

A single man, Mr. Flader was born July 9.1895 at Mount Vernon, New York. He farmed in the town of Hixon (Clark Co.), and also worked for Freeport Silo Co., Withee, until his retirement.

He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Emma Stegeman, Sacramento, California, two nieces and a nephew.

A sister and a brother preceded him in death.