Obit: Fox, Freeman E. (1897 - 1979)

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

Surnames: Fox, Mack, Hall, Zalabah, Ruedinger, Gehrt, Rhoades, Johnson, Knoop, Schoenfeldt, Dimeo, Blish, Lindbo, Laufenberg, Sturtz, Holmes, Tasburgh, Elmer, Hirem, Grahn

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/17/1979

Fox, Freeman E. (1 August 1897 – 10 May 1979)

Funeral services were held Monday from the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville for Freeman E. Fox, 61, a resident of the Neillsville Memorial Home for the past two years. Fox passed away last Thursday, May 10, in Neillsville Memorial Hospital. He was in failing health.

Fox was born on August 1, 1897, in the Town of York to Harry E. and Florence (Mack) Fox. After receiving his education here, he worked for many years as a logger in Clark, Wood and Jackson counties. On March 29, 1930, he married Mary E. Hall in Winona, Mn., ceremonies. The couple farmed in Clark County from 1930 to 1952 when they moved to Illinois where he farmed until his retirement in 1962. They moved back to the Neillsville area at that time.

Surviving him are seven sons, Marion of Tipton, Calif., Rueben of Kent, Wash., Leo of Mt. Horeb, Lawrence of Little Rock, Ark., and Charley, Bernard and Clarence, all of Neillsville. Joining them are two daughters and one son by a previous marriage. Also surviving are two brothers, Asa of Sparta and Claire of Green Bay; 22 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death was his wife, two sisters and two grandchildren.

A member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Fox’s funeral was officiated by Pastor Larry Grahn from Marshfield. Music was furnished by Glenda Zalabah and Linda Ruedinger. Pallbearers were Everett Gehrt, Herb Rhoades, Lyall Johnson, Robert Knoop, Milton Schoenfeldt and Al Dimeo. Burial was made in the Columbia Cemetery, Town of Hewett, rural Neillsville.

Attending the services from afar included Mr./Mrs. Asa Fox, Sparta; Mr./Mrs. Clair Fox and Donald Blish, Green Bay; Mr./Mrs. Richard Lindbo, Coleman; Mr./Mrs. Leo Fox & Faith, Mount Horeb; Wendy and Larry Laufenberg, Alma Center; and Mr/Mrs. Everett Gehrt, Mr./Mrs. Carl Gehrt, and Howard Sturtz, Sr. of Loyal; Paulette, Doris, Bonnie and Dave Fox, Sharon Holmes and Bob Tasburgh, of Hixton; and Mr./Mrs. Ernest Elmer and Emma Hirem, Greenwood.