John "Johnnie" Mark Birkel, 90, of Ellsworth, died Monday at the Ellsworth Care Center. Born April 25, 1918, the son of Edward and Clara (Hageman) Birkel, he attended Stafford and Hines rural schools. He graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1937 and also graduated from River Falls Normal School and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He taught school for 36 years, including 20 years at Lost Creek, Hines and South Rush River schools. The last 16 years he was principal and teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School in Ellsworth. He married Bessie Larson on June 19, 1945, at Lost Creek. She died Sept. 12, 2008. A member of the Ellsworth Rod and Gun Club, Rush River Trail Riders Snowmobile Club and St. Francis Catholic Church, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time at the cabin.
Survivors include three children, Thomas "Tom" (Kathy) of Elmwood, Wis., Mary "Mar" (Grant) Wulff of Red Wing, and Patricia "Patti" (Bill) Schommer of Hager City; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife and a brother, Stanley.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Catholic Church, Ellsworth. Burial will be in the Lost Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren Tyler, Carter and Connor Birkel; Cole, Colin and Kirsten Wulff; and Owen and Bessie Jane Schommer. Honorary pallbearers will be Lenny, Lester and Doug Hines, Pat Harrington and Bob Loberg. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Hill Funeral Home of Ellsworth, and for one hour before the service Saturday at the church. Memorials to the family are preferred.
Survivors include three children, Thomas "Tom" (Kathy) of Elmwood, Wis., Mary "Mar" (Grant) Wulff of Red Wing, and Patricia "Patti" (Bill) Schommer of Hager City; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife and a brother, Stanley.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Catholic Church, Ellsworth. Burial will be in the Lost Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren Tyler, Carter and Connor Birkel; Cole, Colin and Kirsten Wulff; and Owen and Bessie Jane Schommer. Honorary pallbearers will be Lenny, Lester and Doug Hines, Pat Harrington and Bob Loberg. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Hill Funeral Home of Ellsworth, and for one hour before the service Saturday at the church. Memorials to the family are preferred.
John "Johnnie" Mark Birkel, 90, of Ellsworth, died Monday at the Ellsworth Care Center. Born April 25, 1918, the son of Edward and Clara (Hageman) Birkel, he attended Stafford and Hines rural schools. He graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1937 and also graduated from River Falls Normal School and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He taught school for 36 years, including 20 years at Lost Creek, Hines and South Rush River schools. The last 16 years he was principal and teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School in Ellsworth. He married Bessie Larson on June 19, 1945, at Lost Creek. She died Sept. 12, 2008. A member of the Ellsworth Rod and Gun Club, Rush River Trail Riders Snowmobile Club and St. Francis Catholic Church, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time at the cabin.
Survivors include three children, Thomas "Tom" (Kathy) of Elmwood, Wis., Mary "Mar" (Grant) Wulff of Red Wing, and Patricia "Patti" (Bill) Schommer of Hager City; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife and a brother, Stanley.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Catholic Church, Ellsworth. Burial will be in the Lost Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren Tyler, Carter and Connor Birkel; Cole, Colin and Kirsten Wulff; and Owen and Bessie Jane Schommer. Honorary pallbearers will be Lenny, Lester and Doug Hines, Pat Harrington and Bob Loberg. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Hill Funeral Home of Ellsworth, and for one hour before the service Saturday at the church. Memorials to the family are preferred.
Survivors include three children, Thomas "Tom" (Kathy) of Elmwood, Wis., Mary "Mar" (Grant) Wulff of Red Wing, and Patricia "Patti" (Bill) Schommer of Hager City; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife and a brother, Stanley.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Catholic Church, Ellsworth. Burial will be in the Lost Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren Tyler, Carter and Connor Birkel; Cole, Colin and Kirsten Wulff; and Owen and Bessie Jane Schommer. Honorary pallbearers will be Lenny, Lester and Doug Hines, Pat Harrington and Bob Loberg. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Hill Funeral Home of Ellsworth, and for one hour before the service Saturday at the church. Memorials to the family are preferred.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
