Obit: Scheel, Ralph Sr. #2 (1886 - 1970)

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

Surnames: Scheel, Thomas, Colby, Franton, Prior, Petran

----Source: From the scrapbook of a descendant of the Scheel family 4/20/1970

Scheel, Ralph Sr. (16 July 1886 - 18 April 1970)

Loyal - The burned body of Ralph Scheel Sr. 83, of Route 1, Loyal, was found early Saturday afternoon by his wife after he had failed to return home for the noon meal.

According to authorities, Scheel had gone to a wooded and pasture area some distance from his farm home to burn grass. With a heart condition history, it is believed he may have suffered an attack after which his clothing caught fire. When he was found, clothing had been burned from his body.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Roycraft Funeral Home. Bible student Loyal Petran of Racine will conduct the services and interment will follow in the Loyal Cemetery. Visitation may be made at the funeral home beginning at 4 p.m. today (Monday).

A lifelong resident of the Loyal area, Mr. Scheel was born here July 16, 1886. He was married at Sherry, Wis., June 28, 1916, to Elizabeth Thomas. They celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary in 1966. The couple had resided on the present farm for the past 54 years.

Survivors include his wife, six sons, Ralph Scheel, Jr., Neillsville; Arthur Scheel, Greenwood; Walter, Murray, Gary and Wayne Scheel, all of Waukesha; three daughters, Mrs. Dennis (Naomi) Colby, Greenwood; Mrs. Lester (Norma) Franton, Lombard, Ill.; and Mrs. Arthur (Joyce) Prior, Mundelein, Ill.; 61 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchildren; and a brother Robert Scheel of Neillsville.

He was preceded in death by a daughter and eight brothers and sisters.

(Contributed by Carol Mitte, Neillsville)