Weyenberg, William

Notes:

1933 Chippewa Falls Herald Telegram Obituary:W.Weyenberg is called by deaty at home Tuesday. Pioneer Shoe Manufactur er and Retailer Passed Away After Three Weeks Illness.William Weyenberg, 74 years old, pioneer shoe retailer and manufactur er of the city, died at his home shortly before 5 o'clock Tuesday afterno on after an illness of more than three weeks. Mr.Weyenberg came to Chippe wa Falls from Appleton in 1885 and engaged in the retail shoe busine ss on Spring Street at the same location now occupied by the Weyenberg Sh oe Store. After about ten years he organized the Weyenberg Shoe Manufac turing Factory Co., the factory being located over the store. The busine ss developed and after disposing of his retail business the manufacturi ng business was moved to Milwaukee in 1900. After living there two years M r.Weyenberg disposed of his interest in the Weyenberg Shoe Manufacturing C o., to his brother Martin, and his nephew F.L.Weyenberg, and returned to C hippewa Falls.After returning here, he purchased the retail shoe business of the E.Pozna nski Co., which he conducted for two years and then organized the L.W.Sh oe Co., with the factory located over his store. This company grew until t he upstairs plant was outgrown, and then the large and modern factory buil ding on E.Central Street was erected. In 1921 the L.W.Shoe Co., was dispos ed of to the Olson Shoe Co., which later was acquired by the Foshay Shoe C o., which later failed when the Foshay intrests collapsed. The buildi ng is now vacant pending disposition of the Foshay holdings. After disposi ng of his interests in the L.W.Co., Mr.Weyenberg retired for two years a nd then purchased the business of the Greenwald Shoe Co., wh ich was located on Bridge Street. This business was moved to his own build ing on Spring Street and he was active in its management until forc ed to retire by illness on March 25. Mr.Weyenberg was active in busine ss affairs of this city and was intrumental in organization of the Chipp ewa Paper Box Co., and the Chippewa Glove Factory. Last year he assist ed in the organization of the Lakeside Shoe Co., which is now manufacturi ng hand made shoes in the factory over the shoe store.Mr.Weyenberg was born at Little Chute, Wisconsin March 25, 1859, and spe nt practically all of his life in Wisconsin. He obtained his educati on in the public schools at Appleton and his first employment was in a la rge chair factory there. After three years with that concern, he went toMi lwaukee where he followed the same line of work for two years when he retu rned to Appleton to work for his old employer. After a year the factory w as destroyed by fire and it was then he became connected with the retail s hoe business. On June 3, 1884, he married Miss Angeline De Kelver at Gre en Bay, Wisconsin, and the following year they came to Chippewa Falls a nd he opened a retail shoe store under his onw name. Besides his extensi ve business activities, Mr.Weyenberg was prominent in Catholic circles thr oughout his life. Being a member of Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, Cathol ic Order of Foresters and the Catholic Federation of Wisconsin. He was al so a member of the Elks Lodge. Surviving are two sons; William A. and L eo C. of this city and three daughters; Helen, now Sr.Cornelia of the Not re Dame Order, Mrs. Charles H.Danner and Mrs.E.F.Stump of this city. Funer al services will be held at Notre Dame Church at 9 o'clock Friday mor ning with internment at Hope Cemetery.

William married DeKelver, Angeline 3 Jun 1884, Green Bay, Brown, Wisconsin, USA. Angeline was born Bef 1866; died Bef 1933. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Biography: Past and Present of Chippewa County
• Death Record - Civil: 23 Feb 1964

Notes:

Biography:
From the book Past and Present of Chippewa County:Among the young men of Chippewa Falls who have made their progressive spir it, their energy, enterprise and ability the basic of an important and sub stantial business success is William A.WEIJENBERG Vice President and o ne of the founders of the L.W.Shoe Company. He is a native son of that ci ty, born March 11, 1885, his parents being William and Angeline (De Kelve r) Weyenberg. The father was at one time a retail shoe merchant in th at city and then moved to Milwaukee, where he founded the Weyenberg Shoe M anufacturing Company, controlling one of the most important concer ns of this chapter in the city. He afterward sold his interests to his bro ther and nephew and returned to Chippewa Falls, where a few years lat er he joined his sons in the organization of the L.W.Shoe Company. He h as always taken an active interest in the developement and growth of Chi ppewa Falls and Chippewa County and is well and favorably known in th is part of the state. William W.Weyenberg acquired his education in No tre Dame School, Chippewa Falls. After he laid aside his books he ente red his fathers retail shoe store in that city and when this was dispos ed of went with the later to Milwaukee, where he took an active part in t he building and development of the manufacturing concern. After William We yenberg Sr. returned to Chippewa Falls and repurchased his former sto re Mr.Weyenberg of this review became manager of the concern, holding th is position for three years. At the end of that time he joined his fath er in the foundation of the L.W.Shoe Co., and he has since been Vice Presi dent of this concern and important element in the growth which makes it t oday one of the leading industrial enterprises in this city. In Chippewa F alls, on the first of May, 1906, Mr.Weyenberg was united in marriage to Mi ss Mary Ottilia Ruf, a daughter to Mr.and Mrs. Anton Ruf, the former a vet ern of the Civil War. He and his wife reside in Chippewa Falls. Mr.and M rs .became the parents of three children, two of whom died in infancy. T he other, Burnadotte M., was born March 26, 1913. Mr.Weyenberg is a memb er of the Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church and is a Democrat in his politi cal beliefs, taken an intelligent interest in public affairs without bei ng active as an office seeker. He is a progressive, reliable and farsight ed business man and holds an enviable place in business circles, comma nding the confidence and high regard of all who are associated with him.

Death Record - Civil:
Name:William A Weyenberg
Age:78
Sex:M (Male)
Birth Date:abt 1886
Death Date:23 Feb 1964
Location:Chfa (May be abbreviated)
Certificate:003416

William married Ruf, Mary Ottilia 1 May 1906, Chippewa Falls, Chippewa, Wisconsin, USA. Mary (daughter of Ruf, Anton and Unknown, UnknownF) was born Bef 1888; died Bef 1988. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Death Record - Civil: 25 May 1974; Wisconsin Death Index, 1959-1997 Certificate 014949

Notes:

LEO WEYENBERG Request Information (SS-5) SSN 392-01-1240 Residence: 54220 Manitowoc, Manitowoc, WI
Born 4 Nov 1886 Last Benefit:
Died May 1974 Issued: WI

Leo married DeKelver, Rose 22 Jun 1911, Chippewa Falls, Chippewa, Wisconsin, USA. Rose was born Bef 1893; died Bef 1993. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Sr. Cornelia of Order of Notre Dame.

Family History Researcher:
Date: 9/17/2002 11:03:52 AM Pacific Daylight Time From: ssobczyn@ssnd-milw .org To:
Dear Jay,Your message was forwarded to me in the Archives regarding informati on on Sister Cornelia Weyenberg. Sister Cornelia left the School Siste rs of Notre Dame in 1936 and we have very little information on her. T he following information is in her file.Helen Weyenberg was the daughter of William Weyenberg, a shoe manufactur er and Angeline De Kelver. Helen was born on February 9, 1892 in Chippe wa Falls, Wisconsin. She entered the candidature of the School Siste rs of Notre Dame on Sept. 7, 1915. She received the habit and the name Ma ry Cornelia as a novice in 1917 and took her first vows on July 24, 191 9. She took her final vows on July 16, 1924. Sister left in August of 19 36.The closing remarks on Sister's leaving were touching. "Sister Cornelia h as long felt drawn to a cloistered and contemplative life. It seems certa in that God is calling her to that state where she can serve Him more in a ccordance with the desires of her heart. Sister has been more than 20 yea rs with us and in every way she has been a most exemplary religious. S he has always enjoyed the love and esteem of her Superiors and companion S isters. Sister was never of a robust constitution but was always a busy a nd most competent music teacher. She has a most upright character. May G od love and bless."It is a wonderful tribute to Sister who must have been a very dear perso n. I wish I knew the religious congregation that she joined when she le ft us. That is not indicated anywhere in our records. Wherever she wen t, I am sure they were as blessed with her as we were.
Sincerely, S. Suzanne Rene

Religious Vows:
Sister Cornelia