Obit: Schmittfranz, Joseph (1892 - 1932)

Contact:  Stan

Surnames: SCHMITTFRANZ NESS

----Sources: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 07/14/1932

Schmittfranz, Joseph (13 JUL 1892 - 13 JUL 1932)

Assemblyman Joseph Schmittfranz of Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.), was fatally shot Tuesday. He died about 1 a.m. Wednesday at the hospital at Black River Falls.

With his wife and son the assemblyman was visiting at the home of his brother-in-law, George Ness, at Black River Falls. The men had been target shooting in the Ness backyard. Afterwards they sat and talked, and when it came time to enter the house Schmittfranz picked up the rifle and it was discharged.

District Attorney H.M. Perry of Jackson County, who investigated, said that he was satisfied that the shooting was accidental and that no inquest would be made.

Death came on his fortieth birthday anniversary. Schmittfranz was born at Chelsea, Wis., and after graduating from the Medford High School took the dairy course at the University of Wisconsin. He was a cheesemaker for 17 years and owned and operated a cheese factory near Thorp. Last October he was elected president of the Wisconsin Cheesemakers association. He had never held public office until he was elected to the assembly from Clark County in 1930.

There is no way of expressing the sympathy felt for Mrs. Schmittfranz to whom the sudden death of her husband is a terrible shock. It is the second time that she has been called upon to endure a tragedy, as some eight years ago when riding in a car along eh road near Thorp, a cyclone struck them, killing their little daughter, Marian, whom she held in her arms.