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Obit: Madsen, Peter (1903 – 1978)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Madsen, Yaggie, Wendt, Stenstrom, Woller, Sutter, Hunt, Peterson, Wollum, Hansen, Grimes, Hansen, Lang, Richardson, Muranko

----Source: Owen Enterprise (25 Oct 1978)

Madsen, Peter (1 Apr 1903 – 17 Oct 1978)

Peter Madsen, a pioneer resident of Owen, age 75, of 518 Fourth Street, died at 4 p.m. Tuesday, October 17, 1978 of an apparent heart attack while mowing the lawn at his home.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, October 30, 1978 at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Withee, with the Rev. Lloyd Yaggie, pastor, officiating. Burial services followed in Riverside Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Ed Wendt, Dave Stenstrom, Lloyd Woller, Eugene Sutter, Frank Hunt, and Woodrow Peterson, with honorary pallbearers being Henry Wollum, Emil Hansen and S. E. Grimes. The organist was Miss Louise Hansen.

The Maurina Funeral Home in Owen provided the services, and Masonic services were held at the funeral home on Thursday, October 19th at 8:00 p.m.

Mr. Madsen was born on April 1, 1903 in Owen, and he attended school in Owen schools. As a young man he worked with his father, Hans Madsen, who had a gas and oil products delivery service in Owen and the area. Pete Madsen later operated the business for more than 37 years, until he retired in 1963.

On September 25, 1926 he married Dagny Lang in Withee. She died on April 26, 1974.

Not only a businessman, Mr. Madsen was a community minded man who belonged to numerous community and service organizations. He was a member of Nazareth Church, F & AM 317 Masonic Lodge, Owen Businessmen’s Club, the Owen Kiwanis Club, of which he was a charter member. He was past president of the Meadowview Country Club.

He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. William (Lois) Richardson of Waupun; one son, Jerry of Setauket, New York; one sister, Mrs. Ed (Mary) Muranko, Clarendon Hills, Illinois; two grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.

Besides his wife, he was predeceased by one brother and one great-grandson.

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Obit: Gehrke, Lewis F. (1907 – 1978)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Gehrke, Warns, Fliss, Milewski, Peterson, Bruchert, Munson, Smasal, Pralguske, Holmes, Boyles

----Source: Owen Enterprise (25 Oct 1978)

Gehrke, Lewis F. (7 Feb 1907 – 18 Oct 1978)

Lewis F. Gehrke, age 71, former Longwood cheesemaker, died at 8:40 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18, 1978 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield where he was admitted on October 9th.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Owen, with Rev. Richard Fliss officiating. Burial services followed in Riverside Cemetery.

The pallbearers were Bill Warns, Tony Milewski, Jim Peterson, Leon Bruchert, Ray Munson, and Art Smasal.

The Maurina Funeral Home in Owen was in charge of arrangements, where a Parish Rosary was recited at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Lewis F. Gehrke was born on February 7, 1907 in the Town of Maplehurst. He married the former Anne Pralguske on September 10, 1930 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Withee.

Mr. Gehrke worked as a cheesemaker and the manager of the Longwood Cheese Factory for 35 years, until 1960, when they moved to Minneapolis and he was employed as a caretaker and chauffeur until 1970, when they moved back to Owen.

He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and its Holy Name Society.

He is survived by his wife; four sons, Lawrence Gehrke of Colby, Ronald and Thomas of Owen, and John of Minneapolis; four brothers, Donald of Withee, Alfred of Owen, Julius of Colby, and Allen of Hollywood, California; two sisters, Mrs. Alvin (Margret) Holmes, Friendship, Mrs. John (Grace) Boyles of Owen; and twelve grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.

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Obit: Haas, William Lyle (1905 – 1978)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Haas, Swanson, Hansen, Arneson, Lehnen, Strohkirch

----Source: Owen Enterprise (25 Oct 1978)

Haas, William Lyle (26 Jul 1905 – 21 Oct 1978)

William Lyle Haas, age 73, a former Mayor and Owen city council man, died on Saturday, October 21, 1978 at 6:00 p.m. in his home, following a long illness.

Funeral services in his memory were held at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening, October 24, 1978, at the Maurina Funeral Home in Owen. Rev. Loren Swanson of the United Church of Christ officiated. Masonic services were held at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Cremation followed the services.

William Lyle was born on July 26, 1905 in Withee, and here he attended the local schools. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1931, following courses in butter and cheese making.

He worked as a butter and cheese maker and operated dairy plants in Illinois and Wisconsin for 18 years, and with his wife operated a farm in the Town of Hoard for 12 years.

He was married on July 15, 1927 to Mathilda Hansen in Withee. He attended and graduated from the University of Wisconsin, where he had learned the butter and cheese making business.

He later worked for the Clark County Health Care Center as a utility and maintenance assistant for 15 years, retiring in 1969.

Mr. Haas was a public and community-spirited man, and during his life served first as a supervisor in the Township of Hoard for six years. As a resident of the City of Owen, he first served as Fourth Ward alderman on the city council, elected to that office in April 1962, serving until he was appointed Mayor on April 15, 1970, upon resignation of Doctor Arneson. He served the remaining term, and was elected to the office in 1971,, but he resigned and Edward Lehnen was appointed.

He was the prime mover in the organization and establishment of the Watershed Association, working on the beginning of the now completed project. He also was one of the ones who started the first housing project in the city. He belonged to the Republican Party and enjoyed politics.

He was a member of the United Church of Christ in Owen, and also of the Masonic Lodge F & AM 317 in Owen.

They celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in June of 1977.

Mr. Haas is survived by his wife; one son, Roger Haas of West Palm beach, Florida; one daughter, Miss Barbara Haas of Green Bay; one sister, Mrs. Clarence (Katherine) Strohkirch of Owen; and two brothers, James Haas of Monroe and George Haas of Rice Lake.

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School: O-W High School–Football Champs 1st Time in 23 Years (Oct 1978)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Wirtala

----Source: Owen Enterprise (01 Nov 1978)

For the first time in 23 years, the O-W Blackhawks are the Cloverbelt Football Champs, and their last game of the 1978 season with Greenwood, clinched the title undisputed. However, even before the Greenwood game, it was almost a sure thing that the Hawks would have the title, although they might have shared with another team if they had lost to Greenwood.

It was in the 1955 football season, the first year Owen-Withee had existed as a school district, that the first O-W team won the Cloverbelt Championship. That year, the O-W team was not known as the Blackhawks, but they had a perfect season record, 7 wins and 0 losses. Their last game was with the Thorp Cardinals, long time traditional rivals. The defeat of Thorp cinched the title and the championship.

Although the 1978 record was not as perfect, as they lost their first game with Athens on August 25th; their record of wins is the same, 7 total wins.

An interesting sidelight to the comparison of the 1978 season with the 1955 one, is the fact that one team played on the 1978 championship team is the son of one of the players on the 1955 championship team. Russ Wirtala, number 52, is the son of William (Bill) Wirtala, who was right guard on the 1955 O-W team.

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News: Owen – Community Action People (C.A.P) Formed (Oct 1978)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Mulrooney

----Source: Owen Enterprise (01 Nov 1978)

A new service organization, Community Action People (C.A.P.), met at 8:00 p.m. Monday, October 30, 1978 at the Woodland Inn in Owen.

Guests speaker for the meeting was Stan Mulrooney, owner of a moving company. He discussed the inadequate government regulations put on moving companies, which was highlighted in a recent “60 Minutes” episode. He mentioned do’s and don’ts while moving that will ensure proper charges.

Winter projects were discussed by the members and their guests, with many fine ideas brought up.

The Business Meeting was followed by buffet and coffee, and the next meeting was set for 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 13th.

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News: Owen Postmaster Elected Chairman of Clark Co. Postmasters (28 Oct 1978)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Bjornstad, Nikolay

----Source: Owen Enterprise (01 Nov 1978)

The Clark County Postmaster’s Association held a meeting on Saturday evening, October 28, 1978 at the Meadowview Country Club. Dorothy Bjornstad, Owen Postmaster, was elected Chairman of the Clark County Postmasters for the coming year, succeeding Jim Nikolay, Abbotsford Postmaster. The postmasters, along with their spouses, enjoyed meeting together and the fine dinner fixed by the Meadowview Country Club Staff.

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Bio: Knaack, Rose – Birthday Celebration (28 Oct 1978)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Knaack, Hawkins, Thorson, Mills, Mertens

----Source: Owen Enterprise (01 Nov 1978)

Mrs. Rose Knaack was honored on Sunday, celebrating her birthday anniversary with her family here with her. Here on Sunday sere Mrs. Lillian Hawkins and grandson Berry Thorson, Neenah, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Thorson and son Brian of Minneapolis, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Mills and three daughters of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, Mrs. Keith Mertens, Boyd, Miss Susan Knaack, Wausau.

Mrs. Ed Thorson remained this week for an extended visit with her mother.

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Bio: Turney, Prudence – Birthday Celebration (27 Oct 1978)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Turney, Wollum, Belzer, Wollum

----Source: Owen Enterprise (01 Nov 1978)

Mrs. Prudence Turney had a happy occasion on Saturday when her family came to help her observe her birthday. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Wollum arrived Friday, staying the week with her mother. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Belzer and family also arrived on Friday, staying at the home of her grandfather, Henry Wollum, and on Saturday for the dinner party held at the Wollum home. Mr. and Mrs. Joel Wollum of Strum joined them

Saturday dinner with her family and birthday cake made the celebration for Prudy a nice occasion.

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News: Owen - Eastern Star 47th Anniversary (Nov 1978)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Grimes, Scherf, McVey

----Source: Owen Enterprise (15 Nov 1978)

A birthday program was featured at the Owen Eastern Star on Monday, November 13, 1978 when they met at regular meeting. It was the 47th birthday anniversary of the Order No. 274, and two charter members were in attendance, S.E. Grimes and Natalie Scherf.

Following the regular business meeting a program consisted of a reading by David McVey telling of the Origin of the Happy Birthday song. Mrs. Mildred Grimes gave a reading of the history of the chapter. The star points had a special program, holding a candle of their star point color and giving a history with best wishes offered for the future of the order. Then the candle was place around the cake, which was at the Worthy Matron and Patrons stand. Sing was included in the program.

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Bio: Smith, Andrew Sr. – Elected Head of Owen Masons (16 Nov 1978)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Smith, Little, Anderson, Fricke, Grimes

----Source: Owen Enterprise (15 Nov 1978)

The annual election of the Owen Masonic Lodge No. 317 was held at a regular meeting on the 16th of November 1978.

The following were elected to fill five elected offices and one trustee; Worshipful Master, Andrew Smith; Sr. Warden: Donald Little; Jr. Warden: Dennis Anderson; Secretary: Pal Fricke; Treasurer: Henry Anderson; Trustee: S. E. Grimes. Other offices will be filled by the new master at a later date.

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