Bio: Schiesel, LaNiece (Moving/Arizona - 1982)

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

Surnames: Schiesel, Scheel, Ludovic, Hoesly, Gassen, Steinhilber, Ouimette, Beilfuss, Olishkewych

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 6/10/1982

Schiesel, LaNiece (Moving/Arizona - 1982)

Friends gathered at the home of Genevieve Scheel on Wednesday afternoon, June 2, to bid adieu to LaNiece Schiesel. Present were Adelaide Ludovic, Ann Hoesly, Virginia Gassen, Lucy Steinhilber and Helen Ouimette. The Schiesel’s are moving to Arizona where their son Donald and his wife Ardell live.

The farewell party was one of a number that have been given by various friends as well as organizations that LaNiece has belonged to over the years.

One of the things that sets her apart from her colleagues, is that she is the oldest deputy Sheriff in Clark County, receiving her first star in 1958. Laughing, she said, “Maybe you better not mention that. It makes me sound ancient.” It would be pretty hard to think of this pert, trim, energetic lady as ever getting old. She is typical of the many people who give unselfishly of their time and ability in the interests of other people and their community.

It's sometimes hard for a person to pinpoint the exact event that turned their thoughts towards public service—perhaps World War II started LaNiece on that path. She explained that her husband John and she opened up the Neillsville Maytag Store in 1937, but he also had another business in Marshfield. It was extremely difficult during the war years to get appliance parts and other merchandise, so LaNiece claims she had some “extra time” because business was slow. She put in 2,500 hours between 1942-45 working for the Red Cross at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield, as a nursing helper.

She was also among the group of women who worked at the first Red Cross Bloodmobile visit to Neillsville. LaNiece said, “In those days we learned how to do just about everything but draw blood.” She continued to volunteer her services for twelve years.

What got her interested in becoming a deputy sheriff?

La Niece explained that she had started working for Circuit Judge Bruce Beilfuss as a bailiff. He wanted her deputized so she could be on call whenever there was a woman or women being held in the county jail. The law requires the presence of either a matron or police woman in such cases. A police woman was especially required when women prisoners were being transferred.

Although she was paid for the job, it made her more aware of the tragedies of people’s lives and she tried to be of some comfort and help.

This interest in people has kept her hopping between the courthouse and hospital. She recalled that she sold “bricks” for Memorial Hospital Auxiliary back in the days when the new hospital was being planned. Recently she has held with the monthly “Sing-along” program for the residents of Memorial Home.

She also found the time that she spent working with the March-of-Dimes very rewarding. This involved not only collecting funds, but working with various health agencies in locating persons or families needing help. She gave several examples of heartbreaking cases.

There was always some area of community concern that caught her interest, so in 1968 she successfully ran as a candidate for the Neillsville School Board and served for seven years.

LaNiece has been a member of the Republican Party since she was 18. She gives her father credit for some of her interest in legislation. He served on the Marshfield City Council for 20 years. Since coming to Neillsville in 1937, she has belonged to both the Republican Party and the Neillsville Republican Women.

She is also a charter member of the Neillsville Business and Professional Women’s Club and served as its president in 1954. Because of the uncertainties connected with her home, she did not join this year, but continued to attend meetings as a guest. At the May meeting she was given a gift especially made for her by Lubu Olishkewych on behalf of the club to honor her many years of service.

She is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and has been active in church affairs, including teaching of religious classes.

What has driven her to doing all these things. She said, “I’ve always like being out among people and I like working with groups and seeing concrete things being done.”

LaNiece plans to get a job as a deputy sheriff in her new home, or work as a volunteer in some similar type of work. “After all,” she said, “I’ve had years of experience in it—I’ve even acted as a substitute secretary in the district attorney’s office.”