Seventh Generation

317. Otto August WESTPFAHL was born on 26 June 1906 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.^69,378 He was baptized on 29 July 1906 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^69,378 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He appeared in the census in 1910 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁰ Otto was confirmed about 1919 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁹ at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He appeared in the census in 1920 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷¹ He died on 8 June 2001 at the age of 94 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁹

Obituary Notes: "Otto August Westpfahl, 94, of Tomah, died Friday, June 8, 2001, at Tomah Memorial Hospital. He was born June 26, 1906 to August and Ella (Neas) Westpfahl in the Town of Adrian, Monroe County. He was baptized on July 29, 1906 and later confirmed at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church at Ridgeville.

In August of 1925 he was united in marriage to Thresia Gerke; she preceded him in death on July 9, 1980. He farmed in the Town of Adrian until 1946, when he began working for Krause Distributor's as a truck driver and deliveryman. He worked for over 20 years for 7-Up Bottling Company in Tomah.

He was united in marriage to Gertrude Schmieder Kuehl in services at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Tomah. After retiring from 7-Up, Otto remained very active. He enjoyed working with wood and will be remembered by many for the numerous woodworking projects he completed and gave to friends and family. Otto especially enjoyed larger carpenter projects and after his retirement often could be found on the children's farms doing carpenter jobs. They appreciated all his help and have fond memories of the enjoyment he found in helping them and others.

He is survived by his wife, Gertrude, his son Harold (Delores) Westpfahl and his daughter Myrna Giraud, all of Tomah; step-daughter Shirley (Fred) Wehman of New Lisbon; 3 step-sons Kenneth (Donna) Kuehl of Fargo, ND, Dennis (Karla) Kuehl and Steve (Jackie) Kuehl, all of Tomah; 14 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; a sister Leola Gamerdinger of Tomah; a brother Elder "Ted" (Edna) Westpfahl of Tomah; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by two daughters, Joyce Olson and Sonja Pierce, 3 brothers Harold, Gilbert and Herbert, a son-in-law Dowaine Giraud, and a stepson Duane Kuehl.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 11, 2001, at 11:00 A.M. from St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, Pastor Richard A. Waldschmidt will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Vernon Cemetery." Otto was buried on 11 June 2001 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^69,121 in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Otto August WESTPFAHL and Therese Wilhelmine Maria GERKE were married in August 1925.^{69,243,379,380} at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Therese Wilhelmine Maria GERKE, daughter of Heinrich GERKE and Maria "Mary" PICHLER, was born on 16 April 1908 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.^{71,130,293,380,381} (Her given name may have been spelled "Tresia" or "Thresia.")
She was baptized on 10 May 1908 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁹³ She appeared in the census in 1910 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷⁰ Therese appeared in the census in 1920 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁷¹ She was confirmed in 1922 in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁸² at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. She died on 9 July 1980 at the age of 72 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^75,381 Therese was buried on 12 July 1980 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^13,121,381 in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Otto August WESTPFAHL and Therese Wilhelmine Maria GERKE had the following children:

Otto August WESTPFAHL and Gertrude Mary "Gert" SCHMIEDER were married after May 1981 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁹ Gertrude Mary "Gert" SCHMIEDER, daughter of Edward J. SCHMIEDER and Mathilda REPKA, was born on 4 March 1922 in Monroe County, WI.¹³⁰ She appeared in the census in 1950 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³³⁶