Frieda and John were integral to life at Squirrel Lake for the Lelands, their children and grandchildren. They were mentors before anyone knew what a mentor was. The life they lived was a powerful lesson in resourcefulness, integrity and a special relationship to the land they lived on. They carried the wisdom of hard years farming in central Wisconsin, blended with a strong German Lutheran ethic. The list of their talents seemed endless. Individually, they were impressive. Together, a force to be reckoned with – and loved dearly.
Frieda was a woman of so many talents: a seamstress who produced dresses, aprons, quilts, linens and more; she wove rag rugs that lasted decades. A crack shot, she nailed a "porky" from the top of a tall, tall pine with her shotgun (?), leaving three generations of men openmouthed in admiration. While our fishermen and women were skunked, she and John would consistently appear with a stringer of fish. They had a truck garden of their own, and made kraut in the fall, as well as soap we all used for dishes, laundry and ourselves – it floated!
And the food – Frieda's cooking was legendary in the area, and was in fact part of a lrivalry on the lake with Mrs. Jansen, of Jansen's resort. Who was the best?
We didn't care – we were too busy enjoying the mouthwatering variety: kuchen, donuts, Schaum tôrte (4 inches of golden meringue, topped with fruit), pies, savory entrees, sauces, gravies and more. Her distinctive, scallop-edged sugar cookies were larger than my open hand, thin and flaky: wonders that melted in my mouth. Any arrival at the lake meant checking the pottery cookie jars for sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, oatmeal or molasses, and excitedly shouting the selection to family members.I knew less of John, fore he died when I was barely in grade school, and my stories are based on others' recollections.
Here are a couple stories Nancy Boutelle has shared –
Frieda Schilling
1893-1972
Freida and John in the summer house
Freida & John Schilling
at Squirrel Lake
Birth: Jul. 17, 1893, Dodge County, Wisconsin
Death: Feb. 12, 1972, Marshfield, Wood County, Wisconsin
The former Frieda Kolell was born July 17, 1893, in the town of Herman, Dodge County, and came to the Marchfield area at an early age. She received her education in the town of McMillan.
Frieda was married in McMillan, Aug. 16, 1911, to John Schilling, who preceded her in death Dec. 7, 1960.The couple farmed in the town of McMillan until 1937 when they moved to Minocqua, where she resided for many years. She had been spending the winter months at the Ervin Eggebrecht (her daughter and son-in-law's) home in Spencer and the summer months in Minocqua.
Mrs. Schilling was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, McMillan, its Ladies Aid and the 49ers Homemakers Club. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Rudolph (Azilda) Kloehn, route 4, Marshfield; three grand-children; and 10 great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three daughters, two in infancy and Mrs. Ervin Eggebrecht on May 9, 1969, and a brother.
Frieda died at 12:10 p.m. February 12 at St. Joseph's Hospital where she had been a patient for the past two weeks following a stroke. She was 78 years of age.
Children:
Julia Leda Schilling Eggebrecht (1911 - 1969)*
Erna Viola Schilling (1918 - 1918)*
Azilda Laura Schilling Kloehn (1919 - 1988)*
Daughter Schilling (1925 - 1925)*
Marshfield News Herald, Feb 14, 1972
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=102832618
Johann Franz "John" Schilling
1888 - 1960
Birth: Aug. 23, 1888 in McMillan, Marathon County, Wisconsin, USA
Death: Dec. 7, 1960 Spencer, Marathon County, Wisconsin
A former McMillan farmer, John F. Schilling, 72, of Minocqua, died of a heart ailment Wednesday at 10:05 p.m. at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Eggebrecht, at Spencer. He had been in ill health for the past two months.
Mr. Schilling was born Aug. 23, 1888, in the town of Spencer. He was married to the former Frieda Kolell at McMillan Aug 16, 1911. The couple farmed in McMillan until 1937, when they moved to Squirrel Lake near Minocqua. While living in McMillan, he served for several years on the school board. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church at Minocqua.
John is survived by his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Ervin (Julia) Eggebrecht, Spencer, and Mrs. Rudolph (Azilda) Kloehn, rural Marshfield; six sisters, Mrs. George Koch, rural Marshfield, Mrs. Al Sarazina, St. Petersburg, Fla., Mrs. Simon Muchow, Reedsburg, Mrs. Anna Wichman, Marsh-field, Mrs. Ervin Elert, Milwaukee, and Mrs. Harvey Grundman, Menasha; three grandchildren and five great-grand-children.Two daughters died in infancy and a brother also preceded him in death. Parents: Franz Albert Schilling (1862 - 1926) Anna Maria Hahn Schilling (1863 - 1946)
Marshfield News Herald, Dec 8, 1960
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=102832896
Rudolph Wilhelm Kloehn
Dec. 13, 1915, McMillan, Marathon County, Wisconsin
Death: May 10, 1978, Marshfield, Wood County, Wisconsin
Rudolph W. Kloehn, 62, Route 4, Marshfield, town of McMillan, died at 5:55 a.m. today at St. Joseph's Hospital due to complications following heart surgery. He had been a patient since April 27. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in the town of McMillan. The Rev. Walter Koepsell, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Mr. Kloehn, a lifelong resident of the town of McMillan, was born Dec. 13, 1915 in the township. He attended schools there and farmed in the township. He was a former school board member in the town of McMillan. He was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church.
On Oct. 14, 1939 he married Azilda Schilling in Minocqua. She survives. Also surviving are two sons, John, Route 4, Marshfield, and the Rev. Russell Kloehn, Ontario; seven grandchildren; three brothers, Reinhold and Alvin, both of Marshfield and Victor of Unity; and two sisters, Mrs. Rudolph (Irene) Reckner, Marshfield, and Mrs. George (Lucille) Nemic, Spencer.
Family links: Spouse: Azilda Laura Schilling Kloehn (1919 - 1988)
Marshfield News Herald, May 10, 1978
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=102869040
Azilda Laura Schilling Kloehn
Nov. 20, 1919, McMillan, Marathon County, Wisconsin
Death: Apr. 8, 1988, Marshfield, Wood County, Wisconsin
Azilda Kloehn, 68, of M319 County Trunk E. town of McMillan, died at 10:04 p.m. April 8 at St. Joseph's Hospital. She was admitted earlier in the day. Death was due to congestive heart failure.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in the town of McMillan. The Rev. John Tesch will officiate. Burial will be in the Parish Cemetery. Mrs. Barbara Tesch will be the organist for congregational singing. Pallbearers will be Les Leonard, James Eggebrecht, Robert Grundman, Carl Weichman, Melvin Koch, and Roger Westphal.
She was born Nov. 20, 1919, in the town of McMillan, to John and Frieda Schilling. She attended the town of McMillan grade schools, Purdy Junior High School and Marshfield Senior High.
She was married to Rudolph Kloehn Oct. 14, 1939, in Minocqua. He died May 10, 1978. She worked as a nurse's aide in Neenah, and then was employed at the Carter Lodge in Minocqua. She worked for a short time at Rollohome and then farmed with her husband until his death. She continued to live in the town of McMillan.
She was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church and its Ladies Aid, of which she was a former president. She also was a member of the Concerned Hearts Club, and a former Sunday school teacher.
She is survived by two sons, John of Marshfield and the Rev. Russel Kloehn of Stoddard; and seven grand-children. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and three sisters.
Family links:
Parents: Johann Franz Schilling (1888 - 1960)
Frieda H Kolell Schilling (1893 - 1972)
Spouse: Rudolph Wilhelm Kloehn (1915 - 1978)*
Siblings: Julia Leda Schilling Eggebrecht (1911 - 1969)* Erna Viola Schilling (1918 - 1918)*
Azilda Laura Schilling Kloehn (1919 - 1988)
Daughter Schilling (1925 - 1925)*
Marshfield News Herald, Apr 11, 1988
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=102868913
Ervin R Eggebrecht
Birth: Apr. 1, 1904, Marathon County, Wisconsin,
Death: Apr. 5, 1975, Marshfield, Wood County, Wisconsin,
Services for Ervin Eggebrecht, 71, of 610 W. Clark St., Spencer, will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church here. Mr. Eggebrecht died at 11:15 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, where he had been a patient since Jan. 22. Officiating will be the Rev. William H. Ruhbusch, pastor. Interment will be in Hillside Cemetery, Marshfield.
A cheesemaker by trade, Mr. Eggebrecht was born April 1, 1904, in Marathon County. He worked for 40 years at a factory in McMillan Township and then at Marathon-Clark Co-op in Abbotsford from 1933 to 1943, Cloverhill Co-op at Stratford from 1943 to 1953, Welcome Dairy at Colby from 1953 to 1956 and Land O' Lakes at Spencer from 1956 until retiring in 1968.
At the time of his death he was serving as president of Trinity Lutheran Church, Spencer. He also was past president of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in the Town of McMillan and past president of the Spencer Lions Club.He married the former Clara Erdman, who preceded him in death. After the death of his second wife, the former Julia Schilling, he married Minnie Andre on May 6, 1972. She survives.
Other survivors include a son, James, Colby; a stepson, James Andre, Oshkosh; four sisters, Mrs. Hilda Schmirler, Saskatoon, Province of Saskatchewan, Canada; Mrs. Laura Splitt, Marshfield; Mrs. Alice Ballerstein, Wausau; and Mrs. Arthur Wiren, Tomahawk; two brothers, Fred and John, both of Wausau; six grandchildren; and eight stepgrand-children. Also preceding him in death were three brothers and a sister.
Family links: Spouse: Julia Leda Schilling Eggebrecht (1911 - 1969)
Marshfield News Herald, Apr 7, 1975
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=102832217
James W. Eggebrecht
March 7, 1928 - March 29, 2010
James W. Eggebrecht, 82, Abbotsford was born into eternal life Monday, March 29, 2010. Mr. Eggebrecht died at the Golden Living Center - Three Oaks. Mr. Eggebrecht was born March 7, 1928 in Marshfield, a son of Ervin and Clara (Erdman) Eggebrecht. James’ mother died when he was 18 months old and Ervin married the former Julia Schilling, who raised him since he was four years old.
James graduated from Marshfield Senior High School in the class of 1946. Following graduation he enlisted in the US Navy. He received his training at the Great Lakes Naval Station, then attended Naval Electronics School in Memphis, Tennessee. He was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia and Jacksonville, Florida before going to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he was stationed for two years. He then served in Newfoundland where he completed his tour.
Upon returning home he joined his father at Welcome Dairy, Rt. 2 Colby. In 1953, James bought the business from his father and with his children operated the dairy until the time of his retirement. His family continues to operate the dairy following in their father’s footsteps. James was very active in community events and was a member and Past President of the Colby Lions Club, served two full terms of six years each on the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, from 1970-1975 and again from 1977-1982.
During that time Jim also served three years as vice president of the Association in 1977, 1978 and 1979 as well as Secretary of the organization in 1981. In 1985, the Association bestowed its highest honor, Life Member, on Mr. Eggebrecht for his service to the Board and the Championship Cheese Contests of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. For more than a decade in the 1980s and into the 1990s, Jim was chairman of WCMA’s Championship Cheese Contest, establishing the rules and protocols that became the foundation of what was to become the largest cheese competitions in the world.
James and Mary Lou have enjoyed wintering in Florida and spending summers in Minocqua since his retirement. James is proud of the fact he taught his grandchildren the love of fishing on Squirrel Lake. He was an avid sports fan, especially enjoying follow his children and grandchildren’s sporting events and cheering them on. In his spare time he enjoyed being a HAM Radio operator. Jim also golfed, bowled and hunted.
He is loving survived by his wife, Mary Lou Eggebrecht, Abbotsford. Children: Jerry (Tari) Eggebrecht, Morrison, Colo., Terry (Cyndi) Eggebrecht, Medford, Brian Eggebrecht, Colby, Lea (Debbie) Eggebrecht, Abbotsford, Claire Eggebrecht, Pittsville, and Karen (Dean) Rindfleisch, Stratford. Grandchildren: Collin, Paige, Kendra, Matthew, Dustin, Adam, Sara, James, Mary, Amanda and Samuel further survive Mr. Eggebrecht.
A memorial service will be held 4:00 p.m. Thursday April 1, 2010 at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home, Abbotsford. The Rev. Kenneth A. Dix will preside.
Contact: Robert Lipprandt
Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Dix, Eggebrecht, Erdman, Etten, Nixdorf, Rindfleisch, Schilling
The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wisconsin) Wednesday, March 31, 2010, online edition
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/wi/county/clark/3data/64/64793.htm
Julia Leda Schilling Eggebrecht
Birth: Oct. 9, 1911, McMillan, Marathon County, Wisconsin
Death: May 9, 1969, Woodruff, Oneida County, Wisconsin,
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Spencer for Mrs. Ervin Eggebrecht, 57, of Spencer, who died Friday at the Lakeland Hospital in Woodruff. She had been admitted there earlier after suffering an apparent heart attack while visiting at the Minoqua home of her mother, Mrs. John Schilling. The Rev. William Ruhbusch, pastor will officiate and burial will be made in Hillside cemetery in Marshfield.
The former Julia Leda Schilling was born in McMillan Oct. 9, 1911, and received her education there and was a 1931 graduate of the Marshfield McKinley High School. She was married June 4, 1932, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in McMillan to Ervin Eggebrecht. After their marriage the couple lived at McMillan, Abbotsford, the town of Day, and Colby. In 1956 they moved to Spencer. She was employed at Dairybelt Division of Land O'Lakes, in Spencer, and was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church.
Survivors include her husband; a son, James Eggebrecht, Colby; six grandchildren, her mother, Mrs. John (Frieda) Schilling, Minocqua; and a sister, Mrs. Rudolph (Azilda) Kloehn, route 5, Marshfield.
Family links: Parents: Johann Franz Schilling (1888 - 1960) Frieda H Kolell Schilling (1893 - 1972)
Spouse: Ervin R Eggebrecht (1904 - 1975)*
Siblings: Julia Leda Schilling Eggebrecht (1911 - 1969) Erna Viola Schilling (1918 - 1918)* Azilda Laura Schilling Kloehn (1919 - 1988)* Daughter Schilling (1925 - 1925)*
Marshfield News Herald, May 10, 1969
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=102831723