Surnames: Stiefvater, Kitzhaber

----Source: The Loyal Tribune, 05 February 1942

Stiefvater, George (26 Sep 1900 - 26 JAN 1942)

Because of ill health and despondent because of unemployment, Geo. Stiefvater, 41, who was employed until last week as a farm hand in the Town of Colby, died of self-inflicted carbon monoxide poisoning while seated in his car on a township road near the Fred Limprecht farm late Saturday afternoon, January 24.

George, with his wife and children, was moving the household goods to the home of his father-in-law, L. A. Kitzhaber, while they made arrangements to rent another farm. He had been to several places previous to Saturday but had not found a place.

Saturday Stiefvater attached Kitzhaber’s trailer to his car and with his wife drove to the Steinwand farm near Colby, to get their household goods. After starting on the return trip with the load, one of the tires on the trailer had a blowout. Leaving the trailer near Owen, they returned to the Kitzhaber farm for repairs. Getting the repairs, he started back for the trailer. Just what happened to stop him or where he went will be a mystery. The car with his dead body was found shortly after 5 o’clock by men returning from cutting wood. Dr. Overman was called and finding him beyond help, called P. C. Ludovic, the coroner.

He had driven his car onto a seldom used road in the town of Warner, where he stopped, cut an inner tube, and attached one end to the exhaust pipe and run the other end of the tube into the car window, stuffing the window with old rags. He then started the engine and awaited death.

George was well known to many folks in and around Loyal who extend sympathy to his wife and children. He was a twin brother of Ed Steifvater, who formerly operated the Standard Service Station in this village.

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Obit: Stiefvater, George #2 (1900 - 1942)

Contact:  stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Stiefvater, Steinwand, Kitzhaber, Morgan

----Source: Spencer Record, Spencer, Wis.) 01/29/1942

Stiefvater, George (26 Sept 1900 - 24 JAN 1942)

TOWN OF COLBY MAN TAKES OWN LIFE BY MONOXIDE

George Stiefvater, aged 41, took his own life Saturday afternoon in the town of Warner by carbon monoxide.  The deceased had been employed at the George Steinwand farm in the town of Colby as a farm hand and resided there with his wife and children.  He had been in ill health and was reported as despondent because of unemployment.  Unable to make arrangements to rent the farm Stiefvater ceased his employment Thursday of last week and with his family drove to the farm home of his fatherinlaw, Lawrence A. Kitzhaber where they were to make their temporary home.  He went with a trailer to move his furniture and had throuble with the trailer which he left on the highway.  He stopped his car in the town of Warner, cut an inner tube and attached one end around the exhaust pipe of the car, taking the other end into the car.  He stuffed the opening in the window with rags and seated himself in the back seat waiting for death to come.  The car was found about 5 o’clock Saturday afternoon with its dead occupant.  A doctor was summoned from Greenwood who called the coroner.

The deceased is survived by his wife and four children; his father, three brothers and five sisters.  Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at Greenwood.

George Stiefvater was formerly employed on the W. E. Morgan farm in Unity, but was let go last fall when he went to work on the Steinwand farm in town of Colby.

(Follow on Note provided by Wayne Stiefvater)

He was born on 26 Sep 1900 in St. Wendell, Wisconsin, and was buried on 26 Jan 1942 in St.
Mary's Cemetery, Greenwood, Wisconsin.

I might also be able to provide more information for George #1 if you send me more information about him. I have two other George Stiefvaters in my database -- George born 11 Feb 1721, which would have been in Germany before his descendant, Lorenz Stiefvater, immigrated to the US in 1866 and settled in St. Nazianz,  and George John born 13 Dec 1897 in
Liberty, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, who is probably George #1.) 

(Follow up note from Stan)

George #1 was actually another another obituary for the George we have on the website. It has been included under the above article.