Obit: Stoffel, Belle (1873 - 1936)

Contact: Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Stoffel, Biter, Schield, Heffernan, Longenecker, Edwards, Hommel, Ulrich, Dockum, Horst, Knobe, Kadlac, Smith, Spuhler, Hilton

----Sources: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 7 May 1936

Stoffel, Belle (30 April 1873 - 3 May 1936)

Sunday afternoon, May 3, Mrs. Stoffel passed away at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire, where she had undergone an operation for the removal of a goiter, April 30. Her health had not been good for some time past.

Belle Biter was born in the town of Hewett, April 30, 1873, her parent’s name being Schield. When she was about 5 years old both her parents died and soon after she was taken into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Biter, on Pleasant Ridge, and brought up as their daughter.

She attended Neillsville schools, graduating from high school in 1890. That fall she began teaching in rural schools, and was a very successful teacher. Following this work for five years in the school at Dell’s Dam and other schools in Levis, Lynn, and Grant.

In November, 1898, she was married to Wm. Stoffel. They settled on a farm in the town of Levis. In 1906 they moved to the old Biter farm on Pleasant Ridge living, there until 1922, when they bought a home in Neillsville, Wis. After living here five years they moved back on the farm, remaining there until about two weeks before her death when they returned to the Neillsville home, renting the farm.

Mrs. Stoffel was a lady of charming manner, and personality. She took an active interest in the social life about her, and keeping in touch with the old friends in the community and those she had known along the way of life. She was a good wife and mother, and was ever ready to help others who needed help and sympathy.

An old friend offers the following quotation as a picture of Mrs. Stoffel’s life and character: [first word blurred] for her except in so far as we can not help in the missing of her. She had faith to believe that "God is overhead: and as life is to the living, so death is to the dead."

She proved herself easily equal, if not superior, wherever she was places, and never fell below the demands of responsibility placed upon her. As the poet sings;

"God made her on a summer day, ‘mid sunshine and the breath of flowers and bade her lived to drive away the shadows of our darker hours.

Where ever she went, warmth went along. Her’s was a hand we loved to touch. She scattered joy and smiles and son. That’s why we loved this friend so much.

Good-bye, dear heart! The dying day falls like a prayer. Your work is through. It seems that you must go away so all our hearts go after you."

She is survived by three sons, Clayton, of Boston; Glynn of Altoona, and Hugh at home, also two grandchildren, Jeanette and William, a brother Frank Schield of Potomac, Mont., and a sister, Mrs. Wm. Heffernan, Melrose, Wis.

The funeral was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Congregational Church, Rev. G. W. Longenecker officiating.

Those from out of town who attended the services were: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Edwards, Kenosha; Mr. and Mrs. George Hommel and Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Ulrich, Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Dockum, Barbaoo; Mr. and Mrs. William Horst, Chilton; Mrs. Otto Knobe, Sheboygan; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kadlac, Boyd; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Smith, Mr. and Mrs. N. Spuhlar, Marshfield; Mr. and Mrs. William Heffernan, Mr. and Mrs. S. Heffernan and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hilton, Melrose.

 

 


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