Obit: Baumann, William (1895-1981)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson
Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Baumann, Wedel

---Source: Marshfield News-Herald (4 September 1981)

Baumann, Rev. William A. !1895 - 1 September 1981)

NEILLSVILLE - Word has been received of the death of the Rev. William A. Baumann of Phoenix, Arizona, a former pastor of St. John's Church here from 1928-1948.

He was killed when struck by an automobile while crossing a street in Phoenix.

The Rev. Baumann was in the ministry for 55 years, retiring in 1973.

Memorial services were today in Phoenix, and services and burial will be Tuesday in Pecatonica, Illinois.

Card and memorial may be sent to Mrs. Mildred Wedel, 5317 Whiting Ave., Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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Obit: Baumann, Rev. William A. #2 (1895 - 1981)

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

Surnames: Baumann, Kroenke, Wedel, Lehne, Riggert

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/17/1981

Baumann, Rev. William A. (30 March 1895 – 1 September 1981)

Word has been received here of the death of a former pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Neillsville. The Rev. Baumann served the Neillsville congregation for 20 years, from 1928 to 1948.

Killed in an auto-pedestrian accident was the Rev. William A. Baumann, 86. His death, due to massive head injuries came on September 1 when he was struck by a car in a crosswalk near his Phoenix, Arizona, home.

Baumann was born on March 30, 1895, in Acton, North Dakota, to Henry and Anna Baumann. His father was a pastor also. He began his education by attending Wittenberg military academy from 1911 to 1913. In September 1913, he entered Lutheran Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois, graduating in June of 1918 with a bachelor’s degree in theology.

On July 10, 1918, he married Esther Kroenke of Shawano. His first charge was a mission field in Hastings, Nebraska, serving there for three years. From 1921 to 1928, he returned to Wisconsin, serving four Menomonie congregations. He next went to St. John’s in Neillsville. In 1948, he moved to Marshall, serving there for seven years. This was followed by ten years at a Pecatonica, Illinois, church. In 1965, he retired, taking up residence in Rockford, Illinois.

In early January of 1968, his wife died. The union had five children, Rufus and Dorothy, both dying in infancy; Marcus, Phoenix, Arizona; Mrs. Alton (Mildred) Wedel, Minneapolis; and Mrs. Carl (Brace) Lehne, St. Louis, Missouri. There are also ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

On May 4, 1973, the theological school he attended presented Baumann, with an achievement award for his long service to the ministry.

On June 3, 1969, he married Kate Riggert. The couple lived in McHenry, Illinois, until December of 1980 when they moved to Phoenix. At the time of his death, he was pastor-emeritus of Christ Church Lutheran, ministering to shut-ins.

Memorial services were held on Friday, September 4, in Phoenix. Burial was made on Tuesday, September 8, in Pecatonica, Illinois.