VIOLA (BOHNHOFF) WOESSNER
, 83, of 1001 S. Park Blvd., died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1992 at Freeport Memorial Hospital following an extended illness. She worked at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau 15 years. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and Concordia Society.
A graduate of Elizabeth High School, she attended Brown’s Business College. Born August 19, 1909 in Elizabeth, she was the daughter of Fred and Helen (Boness) Bohnhoff. She married Orville C. Woessner on March 5, 1945 in Chicago. He died November 29, 1977. Surviving are one son, Richard L. (Dolores) Woessner of Pearl City; two daughters, Peggy and Kay Woessner, both of Burbank, Calif.; and two grandsons, Roy and Paul Woessner, both of Pearl City.
Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Walker Mortuary, with the Rev. Dr. Willis Schwichtenberg of Immanuel Lutheran church officiating. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. There will be no visitation. A memorial fund has been established for Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Contributed by Alice Horner
HOMER W. WOLFENSBERGER
, 91, of Freeport died Thursday, January 20, 2000 at home. He was born January 1, 1909 in Lanark, to George and Mattie (Lynch) Wolfensberger. In January 1934 he married Margaret Henschen in Decatur . She died in 1937. He then married Lucille Porter – Horner August 2, 1941 in Polo. From 1941-1948 he was a manager of F. S. Companies in Jo Daviess and Grundy Counties. He then was a salesman, first selling feed and then Star barnyard equipment and then Starcraft Boats and Campers until his retirement in 1971. He was a member of Faith United Methodist Church since 1950. In the church he served as a trustee, Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher and also was on the building committee. He attended many church conferences and was a delegate to the reunion of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church in Dallas . His memberships included Rotary, Golden K. Kiwanis Club, Senior Golfing and Bowling Leagues and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the Boy Scouts Committee at Faith Church . He loved fishing and enjoyed camping, traveling and spending time visiting with family and friends. Surviving are his wife; two daughters, Jane (Don) Rasmussen of Livermore, California, and Kay ( Arnold ) Giedd of Freeport; one son, Don (Monty) Wolfensberger of Arlington, Virginia; one brother, Clarence, of Sutherlin , Oregon ; three grandchildren, Robin Lamb of Livermore, Suanne Lovvorn, and Janet Giedd of Dallas and nine great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents, one sister, Helen Auman and one grandson. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Faith United Methodist Church in Freeport with the Rev. Douglas Bowden officiating. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens . Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Walker Mortuary. A memorial fund has been established for Faith United Methodist Church .
Contributed by Alice Horner
HENRIETTA (LOHFF) WURTZEL
, 98, of Freeport, died Sunday, May 11, 2008, at Parkview Home.
Born March 15, 1910 in Freeport she was the daughter of Henry A. and Adela (Weiglow) Lohff. She married Robert P. Wurtzel November 22, 1933 in Freeport and he died April 4, 1983.
She and her husband, Bob, were recognized around the tri-state area as “The Magical Wurtzels” Their hobby took them from coast to coast, Cuba, Canada, and Hawaii. They shared their talents with hundreds of groups ranging from the smallest grade schoolers to nursing home residents.
A clearly memorable engagement had Henrietta performing in Cuba during the reign of Fulgencio Batista- while in the hills just miles away Castro’s insurgents were attempting to overthrow the government.
Henrietta was also known as Freeport’s first “Lady of Magic” and was a member of the national organization, “Magic Gals”.
A strong supporter of the Highland Community College, for many years she would present her scholarship to a student in person at the annual scholarship program. Each and every year when it was time to give the scholarship it seemed to have “disappeared”. But fortunately Henrietta would bring along her “magic purse” and “magic wand” which made the scholarship re-appears—much to the relief of the recipient student and delight of the audience.
She was a 1928 graduate of Freeport High School.
For ten years she was the volunteer for the Tuberculosis Association sending out the Christmas seal and recording contributions.
A member of St. John United Church of Christ she served through the years as Sunday school teacher, member of church dramatic Guild, President of Woman’s Fellowship, and past officer of Golden Agers.
Henrietta’s memberships included, being a past officer of Freeport Women’s Club, Culture Club, Y.W.C.A., 50 year member of Winneshiek Players, life member of Stephenson County Historical Society and Freeport Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
She was the last surviving member of her family.
Funeral service will be Friday 10:30 a.m. at St. John United Church of Christ with Reverend Dr. Donnley Dutcher officiating. Burial will be in the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Walker Mortuary.
Memorials have been established for St. John United Church of Christ and the Highland Community College Foundation.
Contributed by Alice Horner - Walker Mortuary Funeral Home
MILDRED (NESEMEYER) WIDMER
