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Bio: Moeller-Mallory, Theresa – 100th Birthday (4 Oct 2023)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Moeller, Mallory, Tyler, Schmidtke, Finnigan

----Source: TRG (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 04 Oct 2023

Theresa Moeller-Mallory has reached a milestone that few achieve in our society. Today, Oct. 4, is her 100th birthday.

“It’s a funny thing – you don’t think about it (your age) and then all of a sudden you’re there,” she said.

Theresa, who lives about 10 miles outside of Granton in the Sherwood area, still maintains an independent lifestyle. She lives in her own home and takes care of her adult son with Parkinson’s disease. She also cooks her own meals and drives a Chevy Spark with some “get up and go,” she said.

Although she has not had an easy life by any standard, Theresa has determined to stay optimistic and take life as it comes, an attitude that has helped her through many trying circumstances.

Theresa was born Theresa Ida Moeller to Adam and Nettie Moeller on Oct. 4, 1923, in Jackson City, Iowa. She had three older siblings, Earl, Lydia and Cecil, and two younger siblings, Axel and Susan. She is the last living sibling.

Her family moved to central Wisconsin when she was still a baby, settling not far from where Theresa lives now, in the town of Sherwood, by the Lutheran church on Highway 73. Her dad purchased 80 acres of property, which Theresa is proud to say still remains in the family, the land divided between three of her dad’s grandchildren.

From a humble beginning, Theresa remembers a time before the many conveniences of today, such as a washer and dryer, controlled heat and microwaves. As kids, Theresa and her siblings picked string beans and pickles as a cash crop. She remembers ordering groceries and clothes from the Sears Roebuck or Montgomery Ward catalogue. The milkman would deliver their groceries.

Her dad made money by cutting wood and selling it, and making kindling.

The family didn’t stay in Sherwood for long. Before Theresa turned 10, the family moved back and forth to Iowa several times, traveling in a cattle truck with just a few possessions. She lived in several locations throughout Clark County and attended one-room schools, including Birdland Echo in the town of Sherwood, Riverside school by Neillsville and Audubon in the town of Sherwood.

“I had more teachers than I had grades; I moved that much,” said Theresa.

When Theresa was 10, her mother passed away and the family moved back to Clark County for good. Theresa’s dad built a log house for them, which was finished by the time Theresa was 11. There were just two rooms, the downstairs and upstairs. There were three beds upstairs with curtains dividing them.

“We had two stoves in there. In other words, we had the cook stove and the heater was right behind it, and that all went up through the stove pipe chimney. It wasn’t brick; just the stove pipe. Not very safe — we had to watch it so you didn’t have a chimney fire,” said Theresa.

In ninth grade, Theresa attended Granton High School. There was no bus route at that time and it was too far to walk, so she boarded with Fred and Susan Tyler. Her second year of high school, she stayed with the William Schmidtke family in town, and the last two years of high school, she stayed with the Chester Finnigan family.

Theresa kept busy with household chores for her host families and schoolwork. However, when she did have free time, she found many fun activities to do. She and her siblings spent many hours swimming and skating on Sherwood Lake. She also enjoyed rollerskating in Hatfield and at the Sherwood Town Hall, dancing at the Silver Dome and watching movies for 25 cents at the Neillsville theater. She learned to drive in an open meadow by Sherwood Park, now grown up with trees.

Theresa graduated in the Granton High School Class of 1941, a class of 30. She married Marvin Mallory the following year, on March 28, 1942. Marvin had graduated in 1936.

“The war was going on, so we rushed to get married because we thought he’d have to go into the service,” said Theresa.

The newlyweds lived in Granton in the old feed mill house by the railroad tracks, bought from Marvin’s mother. In 1942, Marvin bought the land where Theresa lives now and built a two-bedroom house out of lumber from the surrounding forest. They moved there in 1943 after the birth of Rochelle, their firstborn.

Soon their marriage was put to the test, when Marvin was called up to serve in the U.S. Army. On Dec. 27, 1944, Theresa received a telegram stating that her husband had been “slightly wounded” a month earlier in western Germany. After jumping in a foxhole, Marvin had his left thumb shot at and lost most of it. He spent a year in a hospital in California having surgery and recovering.

In the meantime, Theresa lived in Granton with Marvin’s mother.

“Of course, we had rationing, so we couldn’t drive a lot. Gasoline was rationed, food, sugar. Sugar was the hardest for us,” said Theresa.

Eventually Marvin returned and he and Theresa continued to expand their family. Their second child, Judith, was born in 1946, followed by three boys: Jack, Michael and Ken. There is a 20-year span between the oldest and the youngest child.

Marvin worked many places while the kids were growing up. He manufactured parts for machines and worked in factories in Beloit and Rockford, Ill. For several years, he went to work in Illinois and would come home a couple of weekends a month, while Theresa stayed home raising the kids.

They also lived in a mining town in Montana. “We got there in November and he left in January, because there was no work. He went to Salt Lake City and couldn’t find work, so he went on down to California. He had two sisters living there,” said Theresa.

Marvin got a job in Fontana, California, in the steel mill. He lived out of his car and worked to save up money until he was able to get a trailer. Then the family piled in the car and drove out there to join him. Soon they were able to save up enough money to rent a house, “but we didn’t have any furniture; we just had what we put in the car — a dish and spoon for each one of us, a couple kettles and canned venison that we canned in Montana,” said Theresa. “So you do what you gotta do.”

But then the steel strike of 1952 happened, leaving Marvin out of work again. So he returned to Montana to cut timber in a national park north of Livingston. They experienced the Yellowstone earthquake of 1959. Eventually, they moved back to Wisconsin and Marvin went to work in Illinois. In addition to her own kids, Theresa also had to watch her sister-in-law’s five kids for about nine months after her sister-in-law got sick and had to have surgery.

In 1965, when their youngest was 2, the family moved to Illinois, and the kids went to school in Byron. By the 1980s, the kids were all grown. There would be more challenges yet to come in Theresa’s life, however. In 1985, her son Michael passed away at age 28 from cancer. Marvin passed away in 1989 after suffering a massive heart attack at O’Hare Airport when he went to pick up some visiting family members.

“That was my biggest challenge, was getting along without having him to support me,” said Theresa.

She ended up taking a CNA course and in 1993, moved back to Wisconsin. She worked for Clark County Community Care providing in-home health care. After that, she provided private care in people’s homes when needed. She semi-retired at age 72, although she continued to work part-time at a cranberry marsh for two years.

After fully retiring, she volunteered for many years at the nursing home in Neillsville, making corsages for people’s birthdays and helping with the weekly music program for residents. She was part of the Sherwood Community Club, which made quilts for people monthly.

Into her later years, she has kept up with several interests. She likes to play dominoes with her niece and nephew, Patty and Roger Mallory, whenever she can.

Also, “I love to put puzzles together. I enjoy canning. I also used to sew a lot,” said Theresa.

She credits her involvement in 4-H as a child with teaching her how to can and sew. She has made many baby quilts. She also made her sister’s wedding dress and a quilt out of old winter coats. When she had a garden for feeding her family, she would can as many as 400 quarts of food for the winter.

She also likes to use Facebook or Zoom to stay in touch with her family members, of which there are many. She has nine grandchildren, plus more great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Her oldest great-great grandchild is almost 20 years old. Besides grandchildren, she also has many nieces and nephews, as her brother had nine children, one sister had nine children and another sister had six children.

Living to a century old is not unheard of in Theresa’s family, as she has two cousins who lived to be almost 100.

“My dad had six brothers and six sisters, and a lot of them lived to be close to 100,” Theresa added.

Theresa had a few pieces of advice for how to live a long life.

“Keep busy. Try to think positive — I do. It’s like a lot of things — the tragedy of my husband dying suddenly in an airport, in spite of that, it worked out. We got everything done. It wasn’t all bad, in as much as I had family and friends to help me. Family and friends are very important when there’s a crisis, and I had my share of that.

“I always say, ‘If you can do something about something, do it. If you can’t, let God take care of it. Just leave it in His hands and you’ll survive. Because it’s no use in fretting about anything that you can’t do anything about. You just waste your time worrying.’” Theresa plans to celebrate her special day with a birthday party at the Granton Community Center on Saturday.


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School: Loyal H.S. – Homecoming Court (Sep 2023)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Pearson, Rueth, Schubert, Genteman, Strey, Nikolai, Wunrow, Smrcka, Peroshek, Whitegull, Jordan

----Source: TRG (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 04 Oct 2023

Loyal High School has announced the members of its homecoming court, who were recognized at the school’s homecoming dance Sept. 23, 2023.

The Homecoming Court was as follows: freshman representatives Aaliyah Pearson and Payton Rueth, senior representatives Ashley Schubert and Connor Genteman, Queen Danielle Strey, King Louis Nikolai, senior representatives Jisselle Wunrow and Aiden Smrcka, and junior representatives Hope Peroshek and Tryn Scheel, sophomore representatives Tallulah Whitegull and Heath Jordan.


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News North Clark Co. – Vets Honor Flight To Washington, D.C. (Sep 2023)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Broeske, Bernt, Neuman, Hamann, Schreiber

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 04 Oct 2023

Five area veterans joined over 100 others on the Never Forgotten Honor Flight’s 45th mission to Washington D.C.

The Honor Flight, based out of Wausau, took 111 veterans to Washington D.C. to observe memorials of fallen soldiers in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Five veterans, Marv Broeske, Abbotsford, Helmut Bernt, Abbotsford, Wayne Neuman, Colby, Richard Hamann, Curtiss, and Galen Schreiber, Athens, all participated in the event which was free to veterans.

Broeske, who served in the Army National Guard during the Berlin Crisis and spent 1955-1966 in total in the service, said the trip was a fun, but humbling experience.

“It was really a wonderful time,” Broeske said. “The people we went with were great. The volunteers were great. The memorials were great.”

He said if he had to change one thing, it might have been the weather as it rained for a good portion of the tour in the nation’s capital. Broeske said he has wanted to go on this trip for a long time but it took him three years to be chosen for the Honor Flight.

The trip began on Sunday, September 24 with a meet and greet in Wausau. Food was catered in by 2510 restaurant and a band with live music and a social period. The 111 veterans along with 62 guardians were flown out of Mosinee at 6:30 a.m. and arrived in Washington D.C. a couple of hours later. Four buses picked up the attendees and transported them to the various memorials. Arby’s was catered to the veterans on the buses which normally would have been something that could have been enjoyed at a park or memorial but due to the rain, they had to eat on the bus.

Hamann said one of the things that impressed him the most was the reception the veterans were given when they went place to place. He said in Washington D.C. the buses were given police escorts to go from memorial to memorial. Hamann said when they finally arrived at the Mosinee airport after a long day, there were hundreds of people in attendance waiting to welcome them back from the journey. He said the warm reception was something that was missing from Vietnam veterans when they returned home from the war in the 1960s.

Broeske said he was really impressed with the volunteers that helped facilitate the trip and said he spoke to one of the volunteers that had traveled to Wausau from Minneapolis to help out with the trip.

The trip helped Broeske reflect on his time during the service as he rekindled memories of training at the old armory building in Abbotsford with 100 fellow soldiers. He was able to look back on his time being deployed at Fort Lewis in Washington State and remember those he served with.

“We had some great times and bad times but that is what it’s all about,” Broeske said.

Hamann echoed what Broeske had to say about the event calling it “awesome.”

“It was awesome. It was indescribable what they did for veterans and how they treat you as you’re out there and coming back. I don’t know what words to use. It was just fantastic.”

Hamann said his guardian was someone he hadn’t met before the trip but he got to know the person very well and she was very knowledgeable about the memorial sites and the best way to visit them.

It’s the organization’s 45th flight since the first Never Forgotten Honor Flight took place April 27, 2010. After the September 25 trip, the Never Forgotten Honor Flight has flown 4,297 veterans to Washington, D.C. All veterans that served prior to May 7, 1975 are encouraged to submit an application (via the NFHF web site, or by calling 715-573-8519). The only criteria for veterans to qualify for an Honor Flight is to have served (active duty, reserves or National Guard) prior to May 7, 1975, regardless of where they served.

The next flight is scheduled for October 16 and will carry over 100 veterans to see the memorials as well.


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School: Abbotsford H.S. – Class of 1968 55th Reunion (21 Sep 2023)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Lange, Schillinger, Kattre, Polzin, Ridderbush, Nikolay, Kralcik, Maslanka, Degenhardt, Gierl, Lapp, Viegut, Schraufnagel

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 04 Oct 2023

The class of 1968 Abbotsford High School gathered September 21 at Country Aire Restaurant, Stratford to celebrate their 55th class reunion. Sixteen classmates attended the reunion accompanied by two spouses.

Those attending enjoyed a lunch buffet and conversation into the afternoon with everyone. A table was set up with pictures, information and a candle was lit for the deceased classmates. A poem was also read for them.

Those who have passed on are: Judy Lange, Judith Schillinger, Rodney Kattre, Mary Polzin, Susie Ridderbush, Mary Nikolay, Richard Kralcik, David Maslanka, Debra Degenhardt, David Gierl, Rick Lapp and Shawn Viegut.

Plans are being made to meet locally next June for an impromptu lunch with Trudee Schraufnagel.


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BioM: Marriage Licenses (Sep/Oct - 2023)

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

Surnames: Borntrager, Yoder, Weaver, Gerretsen, Pettit, Radue, Ligman, Harm, Lindner, Peskie, Jakobi, Sauder, Hoover, Ten Napel, Wolf, Franz, Schofield, Horning, Zimmerman, Martin, DuBois, Kurasz, Wriedt, Kostick, Brubacher, Ringler

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 10/4/2023

Marriage Licenses (Sep/Oct - 2023)

Felty J. Borntrager, Township of Lynn, to Rosie E. Yoder, Township of Fremont, Sept. 21, at the Township of Fremont.

Daryl L. Weaver, Township of Beaver to Lynette H. Weaver, Township of Hendren, Sept. 23, at the Township of Lynn.

Dominie A. Gerretsen, to Cassandra A. Pettit, both of Township of Fremont, Oct. 14, at the Township of Lynn.

Jordan S. Radue, to Valire V.M. Ligman, both of city of Loyal, Sept. 14 at the Township of Loyal.

Mark D. Harm, Town of Sherman, to Morgan C. Lindner, Township of Loyal, Sept. 30, at city of Loyal,

Taylor J. Peskie, Marathon County, to Jenna R. Jakobi, Wood County, Oct. 7, in Wood County.

Jason W. Sauder, Township of Reseburg, to Minerva E. Hoover, Township of Hizon, Oct. 10, at the Township of Hixon.

Alexander J. Ten Napel, Wood County, to Ella M. Wolf, Township of Fremont, Oct. 28, at the Township of Grant.

Matthew A. Franz, Oneida County, to Zoey E. Schofield, Marathon County, Oct. 7, at the Township of Mead.

James W. Horning, Jr., Township of Hoard, to Apphia D. Zimmerman, Township of Warner, Oct. 17, at the Township of Warner.

Timothy M. Martin, Township of Hixon, to Leanne R. Zimmerman, Township of Beaver, Oct. 23, at the Township of Beaver.

Edward M DuBois, to Sarah A. E. Kurasz, both of Wood County, Oct. 22, in Wood County.

Dayton L. Wriedt, to Alexis R. Kostick, both of Township of Hendren, Oct. 7, at Township of Reseburg.

Marvin H. Brubacher, to Kaitlyn R.; Ringler, both of Township of Reseburg, Oct. 24, at the Township of Reseburg.

Lavon S. Brubacher, Township of Worden, to Rosene Z. Zimmerman, Township of Withee, Oct. 19, at the Township of Withee.


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News: Greenwood - Clark Electric People Show Appreciation (2023)

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

Surnames: Stewart

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 10/4/2023

Clark Electric Co-op Shows members Some Appreciation (2023)



Volunteers from the local co-ops and Uncle Pancakes set up breakfast to serve to attendees of the Clark Electric Co-op Member Appreciation Day breakfast. L. B./Clark County Press

By L. B., reporter

Clark Electric Co-op hosted the annual Member Appreciation Day Sept. 23. The day is for members of all cooperatives in Clark County and is a kickoff to October, which is “co-op month.”

Member Appreciation Day was hosted at the Clark Electric headquarters. A free pancake, egg, sausage and cheese curd breakfast was served to all attendees.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office held a drug takeback initiative during the breakfast where unused, controlled, noncontrolled and over-the-counter medications in their original containers could be dropped off for free with no questions asked.

Greenwood EMS provided free blood pressure testing and Marshfield Medical Center and the Clark County Health Department provided free medical information to the community.

“We usually serve around 825–1,050 people a year,” Tim Stewart said, CEO/general manager of Clark Electric Co-op. “We ask members and the community to bring food donations to put in the big box, and that all goes to the Greenwood Food Pantry.

“We have kids’ activities where they get to decorate a pumpkin and paint a picture frame. We’ve learned as we’ve gone and made things more kid focused. We get a good turnout nonetheless.”

There were a total of nine student volunteers from Loyal and Greenwood school districts. PowerPac provided scooters and rides for people directing traffic. Uncle Pancakes, a breakfast business, served pancakes, sausages, eggs and cheese curds for breakfast.

“This is a way to say that we appreciate our members and that we’re here to serve them,” Stewart said.


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News: Colby - Railroad History Presented at Community Library (2023)

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

Surnames: Clark, McIndoe, Colby

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 10/4/2023

Colby Community Library Goes Down The Rails of History (2023)



Ben Clark of the Marathon County Historical Society presented the history of railroads in Colby at the Colby Community Library for over 40 people. He spoke about the geography, politics and financial sides of the railroad while explaining the terminology in a way the kids in attendance could understand. L.B./Clark County Press

By L.B., reporter

The arrival of trains drastically changed how Wisconsinites lived their lives and even shaped the state of Wisconsin in surprising ways.

Ben Clark of the Marathon County Historical Society presented the story of how the building of the Wisconsin Central Railroad directly led to the creation of Colby. The free event was sponsored by the Rural Arts Museum and hosted by the Colby Community Library Sept. 21.

Clark spoke to over 40 people in attendance, explaining old county maps, geographical terms and county lines so everyone could understand.

His presentation began in the early 1800s, when the territory in the Colby area of northern Wisconsin was undeveloped.

“There were no farms in the area, just logging towns,” Clark said.

He spoke about the development of railroads in relation to the Civil War, when the government decided it would be profitable to transport the natural resources of northern Wisconsin to the war front.

“Walter McIndoe found a loophole, and he tweaked the laws so that any railroad would have to go through Marathon County,” Clark said.

Work began on a 250-mile railroad track from Menasha to Ashland, but the work was halted because of financial difficulties caused in part by the economic crisis in Europe and major fires in both Boston and Chicago.

It seemed as though the project would collapse, but Gardner Colby, an Eastern financier who was president of the railroad company, succeeded in raising funds for the project. The place where work had stopped became a settlement of about 100 inhabitants, initially called Station 51, before its name was changed to Colby, after Gardner’s son, Charles L. Colby.

When the rail line was completed, settling increased rapidly, and sawmills, farming settlements and more townships were set up.

Clark spoke about the money troubles, politics and eventual consolidation of the three main rail companies into one: the Wisconsin Central Line. This rail line was eventually taken over by the Soo Line, which has since been acquired by the Canadian National Railroad.

The memory of local railroad history is kept alive by the Colby Rural Arts Museum.


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News: Greenwood - New Winery Opens (2023)

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

Surnames: Wold, Susa, Lucas, Wuethrich, Branstiter, Hanson, Amacher, Lindner, Nyberg, Anderson, Luepke

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 10/4/2023

New Winery Opens in Greenwood (2023)



In August, (l-r) Den and Jessica Wolf and Chuck and Casey Susa stand in front of the recently completed sign inside the 1891 Winery, which used to be the Centuries on Main building in Greenwood, hoping to open soon. L. B./Clark County Press

By L. B., reporter

Chuck Susa and his wife, Casey, purchased the building that was formerly Centuries on Main in Greenwood in November 2022 from Michelle Lucas and Tonia Wuethrich.

The pair had hoped to open a new winery in the month of August. Oct. 1, The Susas, along with Dan and Jessica Wolf, opened 1891 Winery.

The couple had searched for any existing property to enact their plan, which was years in the making.
“It was a long process,” Chuck Susa said. “We even looked at [buying] Munsen Bridge Winery, but it didn’t work out. That was what got us thinking about a winery.

“August of [2022], the sale of the building fell through, so it was back on the market, and we decided it’d be the perfect home for what we’re trying to do.”

Chuck Susa had to get many licenses to legally open the business and got the final necessary permit on July 12.

“I’ve been making wine for a little while now,” Chuck Susa said. “I picked it up from where my mom left off. She acquired some fruit and a neighbor suggested making wine, so it’s kind of a family tradition, I guess.”

“We’re still working on pictures from the history room in Neillsville,” Casey Susa said.
The pair plans to make the winery both a place for families and friends to relax and for citizens to recount the history of Greenwood.

“We want it to be different than a bar,” said Casey Susa. “We want families to come in, have some wine, relax, sit with friends and look at pictures and the historical objects.”

Some of the wines served are named after the first settlers in Greenwood. The Branstiter Museum donated photo albums for the new owners to learn from and incorporate into the design. The Susas made the tables and chairs out of lumber from Greenwood power poles and tin from an old furniture building, as well as a building Chuck Susa’s father worked at.

“We were born and raised in Greenwood,” Chuck Susa said. “Our parents live here, and our grandparents helped build this town. They passed the torch, and we want to give back, make the community better than we left it, especially for the younger generation.”

The goal for the Susas’ new business is to celebrate Greenwood’s history and look to the past to learn and guide the community in the future.

“The name of the winery is 1891 Winery,” Chuck Susa said. “The name comes from the year Greenwood was established.”

The 1891 Winery serves many kinds of wine, pop, beer, water, pizzas, cheese, crackers, homemade pretzels and more.

The owners reported that the previous owners and their family have been supportive in their business.

The grand opening day and open house was led with a ribbon cutting, with the mayor, David Hansen, and members of the Clark County Economic Development Corporation and Tourism Bureau’s board, Nancy Amacher and Pat Lindner in attendance, as well as its executive director, Shelia Nyberg.
Supporters flooded into the open house, making themselves at home in moments. The event featured live music from Jordan Anderson.

The Luepke family, good friends of the owners, took up one of the center tables in the winery, coming all the way from Spencer, before heading home to watch the Dallas Cowboys play against the New England Patriots.

Edward DuBois contributed to this article.


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News: Clark County - Western Tech College (Pres. List - 2023)

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

Surnames: Lagasse, Medinger

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 10/4/2023

Clark County-Western Tech College (Pres. List - 2023)

Ian Legasse of Thorp and Clara Medinger of Neillsville were named to the Western Technical College president’s list of high distinction for the summer 2023 term.

To be included on the president’s list, students must achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and carry six or more credits in an associate’s degree or technical diploma program.


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Obit: Benzinger, Philip James (1941 - 2023)

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

Surnames: Benzinger, Deates, Krueger, Bird, Ackeret, Lasecki, Heggemeier, Pedersen

----Source: Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home (Owen, Clark Co., WI) 10/04/2023

Benzinger, Philip James (8 December 1941 – 29 September 2023) With Flag

Philip James Benzinger, 81, most recently of Owen, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on September 29, 2023, while residing at Clark County Rehab and Living Center under the tender care of Promedica Hospice.

Phil was born on December 8, 1941, in Merrill, to Margie (Deates) and Albert Benzinger. He was baptized at St. Francis Xavior Church on January 25, 1942. He was a long time member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church of Wausau and later of St. John's Lutheran Church of Withee.

He was a loving younger brother to Gary (Lois) Benzinger of Merrill and older brother to Jack (Sue) Benzinger of Sturgeon Bay, Carol (Jerry) Bird of Wausau, Sandy (Perry) Ackeret of Stevens Point, Colleen (Larry) Lasecki of Green Bay and Scott (Julie) Benzinger of Wausau. He was the uncle to many nieces and nephews through his siblings and by marriage whom he loved dearly and enjoyed visiting with them any chance he got.

He would often tell childhood stories of exploring the outdoors, bird hunting and swimming in the river out to the island. He loved playing baseball and basketball, being with family and friends and playing a good prank on his siblings or mom. He graduated from Merrill High School on May 26, 1960. It is there he met the love of his life, Wanda Jean Krueger, and they were married on Oct. 6, 1962.

Shortly after the wedding, Phil left for Air Force basic training. Afterwards, Phil and Wanda moved to Texas and lived on base while he served. After a short stint, Phil and Wanda returned to Merrill. Their journey together found them also living in Waupaca and Wausau. Phil was a loving, dedicated husband and took care of Wanda through many illnesses. Shortly after Wanda passed on August 18, 2008, Phil moved to Owen to be with his family.

Phil loved working with and getting to know people. He had many jobs as a kid, creating his hard work ethic, but as an adult, he started working as a meat cutter and eventually was co-owner of a grocery store. For most of his career, he worked in sales. He was a successful salesman, known for his friendly personality and trustworthy customer service. He started out by selling insurance and as a Phillips Liquor Distributor. He worked for a short time at Wausau Paper Mill where he learned about the mechanical process there. He then took that knowledge and his sales experience to work for Able Distributing of Wausau and later for Mechanical Supply out of Escanaba, MI. He ended his working years in another customer service role at Sir Speedy in Wausau.

In 1968, while living in Wausau, Phil and Wanda had their daughter Kay Lynn. He was a loving and caring dad who was active in her life. He had been her Sunday School teacher and bowling coach. He shared his love of the outdoors, taking her camping and teaching her how to fish. He passed on his love of grilling and taking the back roads.

His family grew more when Kay Lynn (Benzinger) married Paul Heggemeier Sr. of Owen. He was later blessed with 6 grandchildren Heather Rae (Ben) Pedersen of Eau Claire, Tiffany of Owen, Emily of Allenton, Stephany of Chippewa Falls, PJ of Altoona and Benjamin of Eau Claire. He passed away with joy in his heart, knowing a great grandson was on the way. He loved being a grandpa. He was always available for sleepovers and adventures. He was their biggest fan, coming to as many sporting events and performances as possible.

You might have known him as Phil, PJ, Benny, Mr. B, Grandpa B. or Schlop. But if you knew him, you knew of his big smile and warm personality. He was loved and will be dearly missed by many.

On Friday, October 13th, the family of Phil Benzinger will be holding a visitation from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. and a Memorial Service at 6:00 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Withee, WI with a Celebration Of Life to follow at IGYs Bar and Grill also in Withee. Military Honors provided by the Owen American Legion Post #123, Owen-Withee Vets Club and Thorp VFW Post #9057.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Philip, please visit our floral store.


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Obit: Haswell, Phyllis Lorraine (1924 - 2023)

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

Surnames: Haswell, Holford, Minter, Harm, Johnson, Ulfig

----Source: Cuddie Funeral Home (Loyal, Clark Co., WI) 10/4/2023

Haswell, Phyllis Lorraine (21 July 1924 – 30 September 2023)

Phyllis L. Haswell, 99, of Spencer, passed away at Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield, on Saturday, September 30, 2023. Funeral services for Phyllis will be held at a later date.

Phyllis Lorraine Minter was born on July 21, 1924, in Chicago, IL to Henry A. and Phyllis (Holford) Minter. She was raised and received her education in Chicago, where she graduated from high school. Phyllis was united in marriage to Edgar T. Haswell, Jr. on October 30, 1943, in Chicago. She worked for a short time at a phone company in Chicago, before raising her four children. After her children were out of school, Phyllis worked at a nursing home in Freeport, IL. When her husband became ill, they moved to Wisconsin to be near family. She worked at Figi's in Marshfield for a few years and has resided in rural Spencer until her death.

She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Chili, and had many interests, but especially loved stitching, embroidery, playing organ and piano at church, singing, baking cakes and candies, and making chop suey. Her grandsons will miss spending time with her making poached eggs and hash.

Phyllis is survived by three children: Donna (Harold) Harm of Spencer, Vicki (Richard) Johnson of Briggsville, IL; Jim Haswell of Marshfield; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edgar; one daughter, Linda Ulfig; and one brother, Robert Minter.

 

 


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