BioA: Franz, Mr. and Mrs. Otto (Golden - 1979)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 
Surnames: Franz, Obergfell, Verhulst, Acker, Hoepner, Milz, Haugland, Georgas, Trimberger, Skutak, Potocnik

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/09/1979

Franz, Mr. and Mrs. Otto (Golden – 22 August 1979)

Mr. and Mrs. Otto Franz, now of Mesa, Ariz., but formerly of the Greenwood area, r e turned to Clark County recently to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

On August 4, the couple was honored at the Beaver Town Hall, near Loyal, with friends and relatives attending from early afternoon until midnight. Music fro dancing was furnished by Ethel and Frank Potocnik of Curtiss and Rick Skutak of Mosinee.

Myrtle Franz wore a yellow rose corsage while Otto sported a single rose. Other flowers included a yellow rose centerpiece with the corsages and display piece given by the children.

The couple was married on August 22, 1929, by a Justice of the Peace in Wolf Point, Montana. The couple farmed near Sidney, Mt., until 1944 and then lived in Polson, Mt; Lewiston, Id.; and then on to Greenwood before moving to Arizona 27 years ago.

Otto was born on January 17, 1903, in Greenwood to August and Alvina Franz. He attended Decker School and farmed all of his life until retirement. He is in good health and enjoys fishing and traveling. Myrtle was born on February 16, 1912, in Sidney, Mt., to Matt and Etta Obergfell. She is in good health also and enjoys traveling and sewing. She and her husband are active in the Methodist Congregation.

The children of the Franz couple include two daughters, Mrs. Lyle (Alice) Verhulst of Loyal and Mrs. Richard (Virginia) Acker of Greenwood; two sons, Paul of Elk Mound and Douglas of Mesa, Ariz. They also have fourteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Deceased in the family is a daughter that died in infancy in 1935 and a great-grandson that also died in infancy in 1977.

A mock wedding was also held with Ricky Franz, a grandson, and Janice Verhulst, a granddaughter, as bride and groom. The wedding suit of Otto was worn in the mock ceremony.

Special guests at the gala event was Mrs. Franz’s aunt, Beulah Obergfell and her cousins, Jerry and Nancy Obergfell, all of Montana. Others attending the event from away included Mr./Mrs. Paul Franz, family & friends, Elk Mound; Mr./Mrs. Carl Hoepner, Watertown; Mr./Mrs. Tim Milz & daughter, Miladore; Mr./Mrs. Monte Haugland & family, Elkton, S.D.; Leondo Franz, Wis. Rapids; and Mr./Mrs. Elmer Georgas and Mr./Mrs. Walter Trimberger, of Neillsville.