Surnames: Gehrke, Freistedt, Robertson, Holcomb

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 03/09/1950

Gehrke, William (10 MAR 1889 - 8 MAR 1950)

Death came quickly to William Gehrke at his farm in the Town of Hixon (Clark Co., Wis.) late last night. He had been confined to his home with a lingering illness for the past several weeks.

Late this afternoon it was announced that the funeral services will be conducted from the German Lutheran Church at Withee, with the Rev. Walter Schedler officiating at two o’clock Saturday afternoon, March 11th.

A complete obituary will appear in next week’s issue of the Enterprise.

(Follow on in 3/16/1950 Owen Enterprise)

William Gehrke, a pioneer resident of the Withee community was place in his final resting place on Saturday afternoon, March 11th, when funeral services were conducted for him. Services were conducted from the German Lutheran Church at Withee with Rev. Walter Schedler reading the burial ceremony. Burial was made in the Riverside Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers were Art Petke, Arno Vater, Arthur Karow, Ed Frederick, Arnold Jensen and Arthur Hansen. Those in charge of flowers were Joyce Mengel, Velda Arndt, Yvonne Plantice and Elaine Gehrke.

William Edward Gehrke passed away at his home in the Town of Hixon on Wednesday, March 8th, 1950, at the age of 60 years, 11 months and 28 days.

He was born on March 10, 1889 in Waukesha Co., Wis. He moved here from Waukesha with his parents to the Gehrke Homestead and lived there until the time of his death.

He leaves to mourn three sisters, Mrs. Tillie Freistedt of Chicago, Ill., Mrs. Holcomb of Polebridge, Mont. And Mrs. Clara Robertson, Withee; three brothers, Louis at home, Ernest of Owen and Julius of Cornell, Wis. He is also survived by a host of friends and relatives. His parents and one brother preceded him in death many years. ago.