Surnames: Hardrath, Kuester, Seefeldt, Oestreich, Luedtke, Mrotek

The Loyal Tribune 09 July 1942

Hardrath, Heinrich W. (24 SEP 1875 - 29 JUN 1942)

Heinrich Wilhelm Hardrath was born Sept. 24, 1875, in Kossuth township, Manitowoc, where he grew to manhood. On March 30, 1890, he was confirmed at the Evangelical Lutheran St. Johannes Kirche in Cooperstown. As a young man he went to Minnesota, where he was employed on a farm near New Ulm. He later moved to Fairfax, where he was married to Miss Annie Kuester on Feb. 16, 1900. In 1903 he and his family moved to Unity, settling in the town of Beaver, where he cleared his 80 acre farm. In 1911 he moved to his brother’s farm in the town of Unity, which he operated until 1927, when he retired and moved to his present home in Riplinger.

He was a charter member of the Unity Frieden’s Gemeinde, which now is called St. John’s Lutheran church of Riplinger. He was treasurer of the Unity Frieden’s Gemeinde for nine years.

He was organizer and a member of the board of directors of the Central Wisconsin Shipping association and manager at Riplinger for 13 years.

He is survived by his wife, Annie; five sons, Arthur of Greenwood, Roy and Walter of Unity, Alvin of Milwaukee and Frederick of Marathon City; two daughters, Mrs. Bernard (Elsie) Seefeldt of Marshfield and Miss Bertha, at home; and 16 grandchildren. One son preceded him in infancy. He is also survived by his aged mother, Mrs. F. Hardrath, of Manitowoc; six brothers, William of Owen, Carl, on the S. S. North American boat, and George, John, Ed and Emil all of Manitowoc, and five sisters, Mrs. Ida Oestreich, Mrs. Emma Luedtke and Mrs. Frank Mrotek, all of Manitowoc, Mrs. William Miller of Reedsville and Miss Esther Hardrath of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Three brothers and his father preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held on July 2 at St. John’s Lutheran church, Riplinger, with the Rev. G. Reiff officiating, and burial took place in the parish cemetery, with the Co-Op(?spelling) funeral director in charge.

Sons and son-in law acted as pallbearers and grandchildren, Miss Ellen Hardrath and Irene Dommer acted as flower bearers.

Among the out of town guests attending were Mrs. F. Hardrath, Mr. and Mrs. George Hardrath, john Hardrath, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hardrath, Emil Hardrath, Mrs. Emma Luedtke, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mrotek and Mrs., Anton Sobiek, all of Manitowoc, Mr. and Mrs. William Miller, Reedsville; Miss Esther Hardrath, Milwaukee; William Rabenhorst,, Maribel; Fred and Otto Kuester, Hutchinson, Minn.; Herman Kuester, Hector, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Gust Kuester and Mr. and Mrs. Herman Schefus, Loyal; Mr. and Mrs. Louie Haese, Medford; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Woempner and family, Dorchester; Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Stecker, Marshfield; Mrs. August Schuette, Unity; Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Witt, Gilman, and many other neighbors and friends.

The Tribune joins the many friends of the bereaved in extending sympathy.