Obit: Kessler, Clara A. (1897- 1982)

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

Surnames: Kessler, Zeller, Wasserberger, Schwellenbach, Larsen, Haas, Sherman, McKinney, Short, Chadwick, Wegner, Zank, Miller, Springer, Elpert, Bush, Boller, Seul, Weisner, Schoenknechl, Henseler

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/20/1982

Kessler, Clara A. (17 August 1897 - 12 May 1982)

Funeral services were held on Saturday morning, May 15, for Clara A. Kessler, 84, of R. 1 Neillsville, who passed away on Wednesday evening, May 12, in Neillsville Memorial Home, after a brief illness. The Rev. Joseph Henseler officiated at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church rites with burial made in the parish cemetery. The Gesche Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

The deceased was born on August 17, 1897, in Neillsville to Charles and Mary (Zeller) Wasserberger. She attended and graduated from Neillsville High School and then worked for ten years at her father’s store in Neillsville. She also worked at various other businesses in the community. On January 18, 1927, she married Carl B. Kessler in Neillsville ceremonies. The couple then farmed in the Town of Pine Valley, an occupation that completed their remaining years. She was a member of St. Mary’s parish and that church’s Parish Council of Catholic Women.

Surviving her are three daughters, Mrs. Ernest (Mildred) Schwellenbach and Mrs. Forest (Angeline)
Larsen, both of Neillsville, and Mrs. James (Elaine) Haas of Barron, four sons, Leo, Louis, Carl, Jr.,
and Kenneth, all of Neillsville; a sister, Mrs. Josephine Sherman, Mt. Calvary; a brother, Henry Wasserberger, Neillsville; and fifteen grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband (October 16, 1978), four sisters and three brothers.

Serving as pallbearers were Charles and James Wasserberger, Robert Chadwick, Carl Wegner, Frank Zank and Clarence Miller. Music for the funeral service was provided by St. Mary’s Choir, Harold McKinney and Mrs. Glenn Short.

Attending the services from out-of-town were Mrs. Glen Springer and Mr./Mrs. James Haas and Mary, of Barren; Mr./Mrs. Louis Elpert, Decorah, Ia.; Joanna Bush, Mosinee; Mr./Mrs. William Boller, Wausau; Paul Elpert, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Mr./Mrs. Irvin Elpert, Rochester, Mn.; Mr./Mrs. Bernard Seul, Black River Falls; Leta Miller and Mr./Mrs. Robert Miller, of Marshfield; Pam Kessler, Madison; Jeff Kessler, St. Paul, Mn; Steve Kessler and Annette Wiesner, both of Wis. Rapids; Jeanne and Teresa Haas, River Falls; Lori Haas, and Jane Kessler, of Eau Claire; and Sara Schoenknechl, La Crosse.