Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1919-02-12
POTOSI.
A Prominent Citizen and Businessman
OF POtOsi, Passed Away.


dOre H. Runkel that occurred Sun
day night, Feb. 2 at his home in the
village following stroke of paraly-
sis which he suffered Friday night,
Jan. 81. The funeral took place on
Wednesday, Feb 5, at 10 O'Clock a.
No., and was very largely attended
by.friends and business associates of
the deceased manifesting the high
esteem he was always held in in the
community where he had lived for
81 years. short funeral service at
the home was conducted by Rev. d.
w. Phillips, after which the remains
were taken charge of by the Masonic
fraternity who with their beautiful
ftineral ritual conducted the burial
services. The pail bearers were Jno.
Ringland, Albert Richter, w. G. Hymn
er' and e. L. Mccoy, representing the
Masonic fraternity, and G. j. Ragatz
and Nick Schumacher, close friends
and business associates. The inter
nlent was made in the British Hollow
cemetery and the last that was NOR
tai of the loving and devoted husband
and kind and indulgent father was
consigned to the tomb. There are
many grievous burdens to bear in
this world but the Lord Jesus offers
to bear them for us. Theodore Henry
Runkel was born in Germantown,
Wis, Nov. 26, 1864 and at an early
age entered the employ of Allen &
Co., conducting a general store at
Livingston. He remained with this
firm until the year 1888 when he came
to Potosi and entered the employ of
W. H. Hunt who then was a leading
merchant of the county. In 1889 Mr.
Ru1kel with the advice and backing
Of friends branched into business for
himself and under the firm name of
T. II. Runkel & Co. opened a general
store in the Lewis building on the
corner. In year or so he became
sole proprietor of the business and
by hard work with honest and square
dealings gained large patronage.
He continued to do business on this
corner until the fire of Nov. Is, 1916,
when the most of his large stock of
goods was destroyed. Nothing daunt-
ing and not knowing the word fail,
he at once opened up store in the
Welsh building across the street and
continued to wait on his old custom
ers and many newones though he was
cramped for room. He continued to
do business here until the elegant
and commodious new store building
ON the old location was ready for oc-
Cupancy. He then entered into a CO.
partnership with his brother-in-laW,
Fl. q. Coons, who had also lost his en-
tire stock Of hardware in the fire, and
with his son, Percy B. Runkel. under
the firm name of Runkel Coons Co.,
established a large general and hard
ware store, a credit to any commun-
itv. Though the angel of death has
taken away the founder and senior
member of the firm the business will
continue the same as before. The
passing of Mr. Runkel removes a
good and highly respected citizen
AMI business man of great ability
and his familiar countenance and
genial ways will be missed by every
one. He also took active interest in
everything pertaining to the welfare
Of the village. He helped to organize
the Potosi State Bank and at the
time of his death was vice president.
He was united IL marriage to Miss
Sally Coons, daughter Of the late
Hon Henry B. and Mrs. Coons, June
18th, 1890. To this union were born
two children, Percy B., junior member
OF the firm, and Miss Clara H., a
teacher in the village school who with
their grief stricken mother mourn
the loss Of the loving and devoted
husband and the kind and indulgent
father. The family have the deepest
sympathy Of all friends in these their
hours of sorrow Besides the immeG-
late family he leaves to mourn his
departure two brothers, William Of
German town, Wis, and Otto of Cor
nell, Wis, and one sister, Mrs. Her
man Gundlach of Livingston, all Of
whom were in attendance at the fu-
neral. Other relatives present were
Carl Runkel, a nephew of Cornell,
Wis. Ben Brozell, Mrs. Ely and Mrs
Chucan of Mauston, Wis, Mrs. Ber-
tina Runkel, Leroy Gundlach, Philip
Gundlach, Elmer Gundlach and Mar
win Gundlach of Livingston. Others
from abroad were Horace Hymer, E,
K. Mccoy and DR.. Rafferty, of Lam
caster, and John Spensely of Du-
buQue. Out of respect for the deceas-
Ell business was suspended and the
schools closed during the funeral
services.
VIM Retallick of Lewiston, Mont.
was in Potosi a few days ago shaking
hands with old time friends. He
came to Lancaster with the remains
Of his father who died at the home
OF his daughter Mrs. Jas Blewett, in
Montana. The father, John Retail
lick. came to Grant county from Iowa
In 1862. He was 81 years of age.
John Ames of Waterloo, Ia, spent
day in Potosi last week with his
brother Jake and family
Misses Winnie and Kate Glennon
s~ler an absence of one and a half
years visiting relatives at different
points in South Dakota, have return
ed to their home in Potosi.
Mrs. Peter Markus has received a
letter from her son, Herbert stating
that he had arrived in New York
from overseas and expected to soon
DO home
Miss Mamie Jackering and brother
Bonnie boarded the train and went to
La Crosse last Wednesday afternoon.
Sam Emler and family of Lancas-
ter, were callers at the Frank Rem
nison home one day last week.
We erred in our items last week
that the Bode Bros. were saving
plank to floor the Eagle Point bridge
II chOn1d haun rood %ba n,,h,