CARL KITZEROW

CARL KITZEROW, PIONEER, DIES AT AGE OF 78
Carl Kitzerow, 78, pioneer resident of Manitowoc county and until
nine years ago engaged in farming at Zander in the town of Gibson,
passed away at the Holy Family hospital Saturday afternoon after a
protracted illness. Mr. Kitzerow had made his home in this city
for the past nine years, retired from farming. The family home is
at 722 N. Fifth street.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon from the home to
the German Lutheran church at Ninth and Pine streets at 2 o'clock,
Rev. Koeninger officiating in the absence of Rev. Uetzman. Burial
will be at Evergreen.
Mr. Kitzerow was born in Germany May 4, 1852 and came to America as
a boy of 12 and located with his parents here and has since made
his home in the county. He was married in 1885 to Ida Brechert who
preceded him in death last December and he is survived by nine children,
Mrs. Fred Bergeline, Denmark; Mrs. John Schneider, Hortonville; Mrs.
Edward Spevacek, Mrs. Matthew Dufeck, this city; Mrs. Frank Riebe,
Green Bay; Mrs. Hans Hansen, Milwaukee; Mrs. Elmer Seigel, Fox Grove,
Ill.; Walter Kitzerow, this city, and Alfred, of Chicago.
Mr. Kitzerow was the last of his family to pass away.
Manitowoc Herald News, Monday, August 4, 1930 P.2
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[bur. 8-5-1930/age 78 yrs/cause: chronic nephritis]
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WILL TO BE CONTESTED
Claiming that the will filed for probate on August 8, is not the will of their
father, eight of the children of Carl Kitzerow Monday, filed an objection to its
admission to probate. Mr. Kitzerow died August 2, leaving an estate estimated at
$6000. According to the terms of the will, Walter Kitzerow, a son with whom the
father lived received $5,500 and another son, Alfred of Chicago, $400. The balance
was left to the seven daughters, "share and share alike". The purported will was
drawn up on April 19 and signed by Walter Detjen and Charles Fechter as witnesses.
Further charging that the will was not executed as required by law, that their
father's signature was procured by the exercise of undue influence by Walter and
that their father was mentally incompetent to make a will at the time it was drawn
up, the eight children and heirs at law ask that the document now on file with Miss
Irma Schmitz, register in probate, be adjudged not to be their father's will.
The case will be heard some time in September when Judge John Chloupek returns to
preside in country court. The will was entered for probate by Henry Detjen, executor.
Seven daughters, Mrs. Tillie Schneider, Hortonville, Mrs. Ernestine Bergelin, Denmark,
Mrs. Amanda Spevacek and Mrs. Elsie Dufek of this city, Mrs. Ella Siegel, Fox River
Grove, Ill., Mrs. Anna Riebe, Green Bay, Mrs. Delia Hansen, Milwaukee and one son,
Alfred had the objection filed. Hougen & Brady are attorneys for the contestants.
Manitowoc Pilot, Thurs., Aug. 28, 1930
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KITZEROW WILL SET ASIDE
County Judge Chloupek set aside the will of the late Carl Kitzerow Monday. The
will bequeathed about $5500 of the $10000 estate to one son, Walter and the
remainder to eight other heirs. The court held that age was not the determining
factor in the ruling rejecting the will, pointing to the fact that leading
figures in the world war were advanced in age but retentive of their strong will
and mind. Judge Chloupek, however, held that the evidence established that
Kitzerow was subject to senile dementia and that he was in fear and under
influence of his son, Walter and that it was not his will and that he was not
competent to make a will at the time the one in question was made. In his decision
the court received evidence tending to show that the man had twice attempted
suicide, told of the farm having been disposed of so that the man could move to
the city, of his being dissatisfied with city life to result in the re-purchase
of the farm. After the property was again sold, the man and his wife moved to the
home of a daughter and then later purchased their own home. While there was no
evidence to show who conducted the first deals, testimony showed the second deal
had been transacted by the wife, that nothing was done by him in the purchase of
the home here and that interest on the farm mortgage was paid to the wife who
preceded him in death.
After the death of the wife and mother, a son, Alfred at Chicago, indicated he did
not believe everything was as it should be, the court said, but the son later
withdrew from participation in the suit. The court held that there was no question
of the proper execution of the will but said that the signing witness had only a
slight acquaintance with Kitzerow and that testimony that Kitzerow was suffering
from senile dementia had been substantiated. The contested will left $5500 to the
son, Walter in this city; $400 to a son, Alfred at Chicago and directed that the
balance be given his seven daughters share and share alike.
Manitowoc Pilot, Thurs., Nov. 20, 1930