Obit: Bemis, Earl F. (1893 - 1982)

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

Surnames: Bemis, Church, Zimmerman, Kroll, Brooks, Schnese, Kneller, Kren, Hanson, Corey, Dimmitt, Horswill, Peters, Spangler, Forde, Stuve, Moffatt, Gower, Wallace, Terrill, Stoddard, Laffe, Meacham, Brooks, Olson, Willis, Berni, Reed, Loescher

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/13/1982

Bemis, Earl R. (22 September 1893 – 1 May 1982) With Flag

Funeral services were held on Tuesday afternoon, May 4, for Earl F. Bemis, a longtime employee of the Clark County Highway Department, who passed away on Saturday, May 1. Bemis, 88, an active sportsman, passed away while participating in the opening day of the fishing season. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Black River Memorial Hospital, Black River Falls.

Bemis was a World War I veteran, serving in the army. Upon his return, he ran a gas station in Humbird as well as several other businesses. On January 26, 1928, he married Julie M. Zimmerman in Humbird ceremonies.

Surviving him are six daughters, Mrs. Ervin (Eileen) Kroll of Mineral Point, Mrs. Raymond (Marie) Brooks of Sunrise, Fla., Mrs. Carl (Carol) Schnese of Black River Falls, Mrs. Fred (Beverly) Kneller, of Boulder Junction, and Mrs. Kenneth (Lois) Kren and Mrs. Frances Hanson, both of Neillsville. Joining them is a sister, Mrs. William (Lola) Dimmitt, Norfolk, Va.; two brothers, Orin “Percy” Bemis of Humbird and Clayton Bemis of Newaygo, Mich.; 27 grandchildren: and 28 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, February 4, 1978; a son, Darell; and a sister, Ina.

Bemis was a member of the Melcher-Matti American Legion Post and a Morris, Illinois, VFW unit.

The Rev. Paul Forde of Neillsville’s Calvary Lutheran Church officiated at the Gesche Funeral Home. Mae Peters and Deon Spangler offered special music for the service. Burial was made in the Town of Mentor Cemetery. Pallbearers were grandsons—Jeff Hanson, Tim Kren, Howard Corey, Brad Kroll, Danny Horswill and Harlan Bemis.

Attending the services from out of town were Mr./Mrs. Percy Bemis, Mr./Mrs. Harlan Bemis, George Dimmitt, Raymond Stuve, Marian Moffat, Reinhart Gower, Mr./Mrs. Dennis Wallace, Mr./Mrs. Hugh Terrill, Alton Stoddard and Mr./Mrs. Henry Laffe, all of Humbird; Harvey Meacham, Colby; Mr./Mrs. Raymond Brooks & family, Sunrise, Florida; Mr./Mrs. Fred Kneller & family, Mr./Mrs. Ned Kneller, Mr./Mrs. Gary Kneller, Butch Olson and Bernice Willis, all of Morris, Ill.; and Mr./Mrs. Ervin Kroll and Kwin and Mr./Mrs. Brad Kroll & family, all of Mineral Point.

Also attending were Clayton Bemis, Newgea, Mich.; Mr./Mrs. Howard Corey, St. Cloud, Minn.; Danny Horswill, Hawaii; Mr./Mrs. A.J. Berni, Tomah; Mr./Mrs. Carl Schnese, Black River Falls; Mrs. Greg Redd & family, Richfield; and Mrs. David Loescher and Susan Hansen, both of Slinger.