Third Generation

3. Herman Louis STORKEL was born on 29 March 1885 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^1,2,3,6

The following is extracted from letters from Irma Misch:

In 1897 Herman worked the grain harvest out west. From 1906 - 1919 Herman ran a tavern in Tomah that was located at 1001 Superior Avenue in Tomah, Wisconsin. This saloon was located on the corner of where the Farmers and Merchants bank is located today (2002). He sold his saloon in July of 1919. From May until July, the saloon was run by Herman's father, Louis P. Storkel.

On the 1st of May 1919, Herman bought the Tomah Hardware Store in Tomah, Wisconsin, from Mr. Uebele and Sacker. He had his grand opening on the 19th of May 1919 and ran this hardware store until his death in 1945, when sons Frank and Gilbert took over the business. They changed its name to Tomah True-Value prior to its final closing.

The Monitor Herald (Tomah) August 23, 1929:
"A six-hole golf course has just been completed at the private resort of Herman Storkel, Nine miles northwest of Tomah."

The 1930 plat book for Monroe County, Greenfield Township, shows that Herman owned 160 acres, located at T.18N. / R.2W. Section 29. In 1942, Arnold Storkel was living on this land with his family. The US Government gave them two weeks to move off the land as they wanted to add more land to Camp McCoy, now known as Fort McCoy. He appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶ Between 1918 and 1945 he was an owner of the Tomah Hardware Store in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^5,15 After his death, The Tomah Hardware Store was operated by his sons, Frank and Gilbert. Herman appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹ His occupation was listed as "Retail Merchant, Hardware." He died on 9 September 1945 at the age of 60 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^1,2,3,11

Obituary Notes: "Herman Storkel, lifelong resident of this city and a prominent businessman here the past many years, passed away at his home on Hollister avenue Sunday evening of a heart ailment, with which he had been afflicted for more than a year.

Herman Storkel was born in Tomah on March 28, 1885, and has lived here since. He graduated from the Tomah schools and for more than 30 years has been identified with business in the city. In May, 1919, he became owner of the Tomah Hardware store, which he has successfully operated since. He was highly esteemed in the community for his honesty and fair dealings and his business prospered because of these fine qualities. He was an ardent sportsman and spent much of his spare time in hunting and fishing and was deeply interested in conservation work. He was an expert trap shooter and took in many meets in which he usually stood high.

Mr. Storkel was united in marriage with Miss Hulda Gramenz in Tomah on Nov. 12, 1907.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Hulda Storkel; three sons, Arnold of Warrens, Sgt. Frank, in service in Texas, and Gilbert, Tomah; two brothers, Louis of Tomah and Otto of Milwaukee; two sisters, Mrs. Anna Hyland and Mrs. Henry Brown and his mother, Mrs. O. Toense, all of Tomah, besides a host of warm friends.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon, at 1:30 o'clock at the Ninneman Funeral Home and at 2 o'clock at St. Paul's Lutheran church, the Rev. H. Schaller officiating. Interment was in Oak Grove cemetery." He was buried on 12 September 1945 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^3,11 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Herman Louis STORKEL and Hulda A. GRAMENZ were married on 12 November 1907 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{2,3,5,16,17,18}

The following was extracted from the Tomah Journal, dated 15 November 1907: MARRIED "At the Lutheran church in this city, on Tuesday, Nov. 12, Miss Hulda Gramenz to Mr. Herman Storkel, both of this city. The young couple are well and favorably known and a large number of friends and well wishers assembled to witness the wedding ceremony, which was performed by the Rev. J. Glaeser. The bride looked very pretty in white silk and carried white roses. Miss Anna Storkel acted as bridesmaid and carried pink roses. The groom was supported by Mr. August Gramenz. After the ceremony the wedding party repaired to the home of the bride where a season of feasting and dancing ended the day. The bride's table was decorated with pink and white chrysanthemums and the house was well arranged for the comfort and enjoyment of the guests. Mr. and Mrs. Storkel will be at home to their friends in the house formerly used as a hospital. The Journal unites with their many friends in wishing them long life and happiness." Hulda A. GRAMENZ, daughter of Wilhelm Adolph GRAMENZ and Ernestine Bertha Louise WESTPFAHL, was born on 30 September 1888 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,11 She appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹ She died on 24 April 1981 at the age of 92 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,11

Obituary Notes: "Mrs. Hulda A. Storkel, 92, of Tomah, died Friday, April 24 in Tomah Memorial Hospital. She was born Sept. 30, 1888 in Tomah, to William and Bertha (Westpfahl) Gramenz. she married Herman Storkel on Nov. 12, 1907. He preceded her in death. The Storkel family has operated the Tomah True Value Hardware Store since 1918.

She is survived by three sons, Arnold, Frank and Gilbert, all of Tomah; 18 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Irma Misch of Youngstown, Ariz.

Services will be at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday in St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tomah. The Rev. Kenneth Gast will officiate and burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Tomah." Hulda was buried on 28 April 1981 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^2,11 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Herman Louis STORKEL and Hulda A. GRAMENZ had the following children: