Obit: Pinter, Catherine (1912-1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Pinter, Heindl, Schmitz, Dessl, Ellenbecker, Gruber, Troyer, Tinjum, Gonnering, Feldbruegge, Bernett, Rozak

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (20 August 1983)

Pinter, Katherine (27 July 1912 - 19 August 1983)

COLBY -- An Elderly Dorchester woman who had gone berry picking along railroad tracks south of Colby was killed when struck by a Soo Line Railroad train.

Catherine Pinter, 71, as killed instantly Friday morning, Clark County Sheriff's Department reports stated.

She had left from her sister's home south of Colby walking along the railroad tracks. Her body was discovered by her sister.

Reports said Pinter was hit by a southbound train. Authorities were not sure if she had been walking along side the tracks and fell into the moving train or was struck directly by the train. Pinter suffered multiple injuries including crushing injuries to the chest, a skull fracture and fractured arms and legs.

Services will be Wednesday at St. Louis Catholic Church, Dorchester. The Rev. Francis Heindl, the Rev. Arthur Heindl and the Rev. John Schmitz will officiate. Burial will be in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery.

Visitation will be Tuesday at Maurina Funeral Home, Abbotsford. A ladies Catholic Order of Foresters and Altar Society Rosary will be at the funeral home.

Catherine Heindl was born July 27, 1912 in the Town of Mayville, Clark County, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin (Theresa Dessl) Heindl. She married Arthur Ellenbecker October 12, 1932. He died April 12, 1977. She married Wilfred Pinter April 7, 1978 at Dorchester.

She had farmed in the Town of Mayville until 1969 and had been employed in the laundry department of Memorial Hospital of Taylor County, Medford, for 12 years. She moved to Dorchester in 1977 and was the Dorchester correspondent for the Marshfield News-Herald and Tribune-Phonograph, Abbotsford.

She was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church and Rosary Altar Society, Ladies Catholic Order of Foresters, director for the Catholic Family Insurance group and also was a member of the Dorchester Senior Citizens Club, the Dorchester Lioness Club and Hilltop Homemakers Club.

Surviving are her husband; one daughter, Mrs. Melvin (Bernette) Gruber of Madison; three sons, Kenneth Ellenbecker of Abbotsford, Galen Ellenbecker of Dorchester and Gary Ellenbecker of Medford; two stepsons, John Pinter of Dorchester and Robert Pinter of La Crosse; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Lawrence (Margaret) Troyer and Mrs. Donald (Dorothy) Tinjum, both of Stanley; four sisters, Mrs. Tillie Gonnering of Colby, Mrs. Henry (Cecilia) Feldbruegge of Dorchester, Sister Mary Bernett of Campbellsport and Mrs. Harry (Gertrude) Rozak of Milwaukee; four brothers, Lawrence Heindl, Clemence Heindl, Wilfred Heindl, all of Dorchester, and Evarist Heindl of Milwaukee; 24 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her first husband, one brother, Joseph, and two grandchildren.