BioA: Bentzler, Mr. and Mrs. George (60th - 1982)

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

Surnames: Bentzler, Motschenbacher, Schweiger, Doll, Pershing, Grutzik, Burkhardt, Auman, Lasch, Freuhbrodt, Wenzel, Carmel

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/12/1982

Bentzler, Mr. and Mrs. George (60th – 19 April 1982)

Mr. and Mrs. George Bentzler, Loyal, were honored this past weekend when their fourteen children were home for a reunion. It was planned to mark the 60th wedding anniversary of the Bentzlers. All of the children had not been together since the golden Anniversary celebration.

The former Leona Schweiger, daughter of Louie and Mary Motschenbacher Schweiger, was born in Christie on August 10, 1902, She had been employed at the Bart Restaurant in Loyal before their marriage.

She and George Bentzler were married at St. Baltasar’s Catholic Church in Loyal on April 19, 1922. Remembering her wedding day, Mrs. Bentzler told how she had to have an umbrella to keep the snow off her hair in their Overland car; the side curtains were up as they went to Neillsville to have pictures taken.

The celebration had been delayed so all the children and families could come for the event. Also attending was their only living attendant, peter Bentzler, Mishawaka, Indiana, joined in the celebration.

George Bentzler is the son of Matt and Elizabeth Doll Bentzler. He was born on October 3, 1889, at Elmwood. His parents had moved to Marshfield and later bought a hotel and livery stable on the east side of Main Stret in Loyal. Some years after they moved to a farm north of Loyal.

The Bentzlers have farmed in the Loyal are except a brief time in Marshfield when they were first married. Several years ago they moved to their home at 319 Division Street in Loyal.

Prior to his marriage, Mr. Bentzler served 24 months in Europe with the 41st Division and then with the 32nd Division under General Pershing. He had gone into service at Billing, Montana, where he was working at the time. He is a member of the Loyal American Legion Post 175. Now he likes to spend time watching TV or going out walking.

Mrs. Bentzler is a member of the Legion Auxiliary Society. She like to crochet. They are both member of St. Anthony’s Cat4holic Church.

The family attended morning mass at St. Anthony’s Church. Dinner followed at noon with approximately 90 attending. During the afternoon they were at the Ronnie Froeba farm, near Loyal, where they had a late afternoon cookout. Many of the children and families parked campers at the farm.

Their children are Mrs. John (Virginia) Grutzik, City Point; LaVern (Bud) Bentzler, Milwaukee; Garland Bentzler, Loyal; Jerome Bentzler, Sun Prairie; Donald Bentzler, Marshfield; Mrs. Myron (Mary) Burkhardt, Billings, Montana; George Bentzler, Jr., Milwaukee; Mrs, Irban (Leona) Auman, Loyal; Mrs. Richard (Darlene) Lasch, South Bend, Indiana; Edward Bentzler, Rochester, N.H.; Raymond Bentzler, Hartford; Mrs. Ronnie (Kathleen) Froeba, Loyal; Mrs. Ron (Janet) Freuhbrodt, Marshfield; and Kenneth Bentzler, Caroline. There are 50 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.

In addition to their children attending, his brother Matt Bentzler, South Bend; and two sisters, Mrs. Pauline Wenzel, Hartford and Sister Rose Carmel of Manitowoc, were here for the celebration.