Wolk Family Obituaries of Clark County Wisconsin

Wolk, Fred Sr. (9 Feb. 1849 – 21 Dec. 1931)
----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 24 Dec. 1931

* Fred Wolk, Sr., well known dairyman of the town of Hull, passed away Monday morning, apoplexy being the cause of his departure to the distant shore. Funeral services will be held this Thursday afternoon, December 24th, at the St. John’s Ev. Church, Rev. G. F. Hahn officiating, and internment will be made in the Colby cemetery. The pall bearers will be Frank Gutchow, Louis Schmutzler, Louis Sachse, Herman Behrens, Robert Schorer and Wm. Voss. The flower girls will be Frieda Young, Esther Young, Carol Young, Hazel Fricke, Irene Dix.

The deceased was born in Persian, Germany on Feb. 9th, 1849, thus reaching the age of eighty-two years, nine months and eleven days. He came to this country in 1888 when he went to McKeesport, Pennsylvania, where he lived until 1895 when he came to Colby and engaged in the farming business in the town of Hull. He was married to Minnie Zillgett which union was blessed with twelve children, five of whom preceded him in death. Those still living are Gusta Klein, Montrose, Colo.; Herman Wolk of Colby; Charley Wolk, Spokane, Washington; Mrs. Julius Young, Colby; Fred Wolk, Jr.,Colby; Mrs. Ed. Fricke, Colby; Emil Wolk, Colby.

He was a man with a cordial disposition, of excellent habits, fine moral character and he continued to be active in his accustomed pursuits till long past the age at which men ordinarily drop out of the ranks of the workers. To this end there is no doubt that his sunshiny disposition largely contributed. He was a practical, matter-of-fact man and none knew him but to like him.

Wolk, Herman (25 Aug. 1872 – 26 Oct. 1934)
----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 1 Nov. 1934

* Herman Wolk, a resident of this community the past thirty-five years, passed on to the distant shore at the Memorial hospital at Wausau, Wis., following an operation and a sudden and brief illness of four days. His death was directly caused by mesenteric thrombosis. Funeral services were held at St. John’s Ev. Church Monday afternoon, Rev. Ed. Becker officiating, and internment was made in the Colby cemetery. The pall bearers were Wm. Strathman, Wm. Schwantes, August Stock, Gust Franz, Matt Schmidt and Wm. Roth. The flower girls were Irene Dix, Dorothy Sabler, Verna Larson, Joanne Larson, Serena Sabler and Louise Fricke.

Mr. Wolk was born on the 25th day of August, 1872, in East Prussia, Germany, thus reaching the age of sixty-two years, two months and one day. He came to this country about forty-five years ago, settling at McKeesport, Penn., where he remained for ten years. It was here that on the 9th day of October, 1893, he became united in holy wedlock to Miss Julia Forish who has been his faithful wife and companion through these many years. Approximately thirty-five years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Wolk moved to Colby, Wis., and have been steady residents here ever since. Their happy union was blessed with four children, all of whom survive their father. They are: Walter Wolk of West Allis, Mrs. Oscar Dix of Colby, Mrs. Walter Larson of Wausau and Mrs. Frank Grunewald of Milwaukee.

Besides these children, the death of Mr. Wolk is mourned by his beloved wife, Mrs. Julia Wolk; his mother, Mrs. Wilhelmine Wolk, of Colby; three brothers – Fred and Emil of Colby and Charles of Spokane, Washington; three sisters – Mrs. Gustie Klein of Colorado; Mrs. Ed. Fricke of Colby; and Mrs. Julius Young of Sheboygan; six grand children – Irene Dix of Colby; Verna and Donald Larson of Wausau; Donald and Walter Junior Wolk of West Allis; and Ruth Ann Grunewald of Milwaukee. One grand child, Jeanette Wolk, preceded her grand father to the heavenly home seven years ago. His father, Fred Wolk, Sr., passed away in December, 1931.

Out of town people here for the funeral were Henry Grunewald and family of Athens, Gust Grunewald of Athens, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Grunewald of Milwaukee, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wolk and family of West Allis and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Larson and family of Wausau.

He was a faithful member of St. John’s Ev. church and his many friends testify to his Christian character. He was a man of excellent habits and fine moral character who united sound sense with strong moral convictions. He was of a very congenial disposition and the writer will also miss his kindly smile and friendly greeting for it was our good fortune to have known him long and well and the longer we knew him the more highly did we esteem him.

Wolk, Robert Glen Wilfred (25 Oct. 1929 – 24 June 1949)
----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 30 June 1949

* Robert Wolk, 19 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Wolk of the town of Hull, was drowned Friday night at about 7:20 P.M. in the Bad River near Odanah.

His fishing companions were Melvin Duvall and Robert Schorer. The trio left earlier in the day for a week-end fishing trip. They started out with three boats, but, as one boat was too slow, Robert and Melvin went together in one boat. After they were out a little ways in the river, they remembered that they did not put gasoline in the motor so returned to shore to do so. Melvin was on the front end of the boat, and, at the time of the tragedy, the front end of the boat was on the sand of the river bank when he heard a big splash. Looking around he discovered that Robert had fallen into the river. Melvin then pushed the boat back a little and attempted to get Robert out with his oars but could not, so the boys went after help. The body was recovered at 1:00 o’clock in the morning. The coroner reported that Robert suffered a heart attack.

The body was brought to the Lulloff Funeral Home in Colby. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the First Evangelical and Reformed church, Rev. F. P. Puhlmann officiating, and internment was made in the Colby cemetery. Pall bearers were Roy Nagel, Orville Fricke, Edward Fricke, Jr., Fred Schorer, Adam Fitzel and Melvin Case. Flowers were in charge of Hazel Fricke, Marion Fricke and Joyce Ohlinger.

Robert Glen Wilfred Wolk was born on October 25, 1929, in the town of Hull. He was confirmed at the First Evangelical and Reformed church April 2, 1944, and has always been a faithful member as well as an usher for the past two years. He was of a reserved and industrious disposition and his many friends were sorry to hear of his untimely death.

Surviving besides his parents are his grand mother, Mrs. Rose Sachse, and two sisters, Mrs. Al (Lorraine) Beyerl, and Miss Joanne Woig, both of Colby.

Wolk, Wilhelmina (15 Dec. 1852 – 24 Feb. 1935)
----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 28 Feb. 1935

* Mrs. Frederick Wolk, one of the early settlers of this community, died Sunday morning at 2:00 o’clock at the home of her son, Fred Wolk, in the town of Hull, hardening of the arteries and old age being the cause of her departure to the distant shore. Funeral services will be held this Thursday afternoon at one o’clock at the Fred Wolk home and at two o’clock at St. John’s Evangelical church in Colby, Rev. E. Becker, officiating, and internment will be made in the Colby cemetery. The pall bearers are Frank Goerschow, Louis Sachse, Wm. Voss, Herman Behrens, Robert Schorer and John Kralcik. The flower girls are Hazel Fricke, Louis Fricke, Irene Dix, Helen Kralcik, Anna Kralcik and June Schmutzler.

The deceased was born in East Prussia, Germany, Dec. 15, 1852, thus reaching the age of eighty-two years, two months and nine days. Her maiden name was Wilhelmina Zilgitt and she was married to Frederick Wolk in 1871. The family came to the United States in 1888 and settled in Pennsylvania where they resided for eight years. They made their home in this community since 1896. Her husband preceded her to the heavenly goal three years ago.

She is survived by six children – Fred, Emil and Mrs. Bertha Fricke of the town of Hull, Charles of Green Acres, Washington, Mrs. Elizabeth Young of Sheboygan and Mrs. Augusta Klein of Colorado. Also nineteen grand children and several great grand children.

Mrs. Wolk was a good Christian, a faithful member of St. John’s Evangelical church and the Ladies’ Aid society of that congregation. She was congenial, kind and gentle in her ways, and, like all our early settlers, was of a hospitable disposition for no one ever entered her home without feeling the warmth of genuine hospitality. She was the mother of a large and gifted family and filled all the various relations of life as daughter, wife, mother, sister and friend and filled them well.