St. Columba Cemetery at "Lake Five," Wisconsin, USA: W

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

W

Walsch, Ann; stone # 63; location: D-18; d. 06 November 1890; also on headstone: "aged 65 years, wife of P."

Walsh, Sarah L.; stone # 232; location: J-26; b. 1878, d. 1966

Wegner, Arthur C.; stone # 283; location L-8; b. 28 March 1905, d. 1960; husband of Lorna C. Wegner (see next entry)

[note: stone # 283 has 2 listings: Arthur C. Wegner and Lorna C. Wegner]

Wegner, Lorna C.; stone # 283; location L-8; b. 01 April 1905, d. 1970; Mrs. Arthur C. Wegner (see previous entry); Memorial card: In Loving Memory of Mrs. Lorna C. Wegner, born January 20, 1918, died February 14, 1970

Weiland, Dean E.; stone # 235; location J-28; b. 24 July 1961, d. 21 February 1981

Welsh, Phillip; stone # 62; location D-18; b. no date d. 01 April 1864

Wesp, Audrey M.; stone # 239; location J-30; b. living, d. no date; nee Sennott; Mrs. Walter Wesp (see next entry)

[note: stone # 239 has 2 listings: Audrey M. Wesp and Walter Wesp]

Wesp, Walter; stone # 239; location J-30; b.10 September 1926, d. 21 February 2009: MJ/S obit: "Wesp, Walter "Wally" age 82, of Lake Five, passed away on Feb. 21, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his loving wife Audrey (nee Sennott) of 60 years. Loving dad of James (Joanne) Wesp, Jean (Ron) Humphreys, Mary (Peter) Rohr and Robert (Doreen) Wesp. Proud grandpa of Linda Wesp, Laurie Wesp, Julie Wesp, Jennifer (James) Derri, Valerie Wesp, Kate Humphreys, Megan Humphreys, Kristin Rohr, Stephanie Rohr, David Rohr, Daniel Wesp, Sam Wesp, Susan Wesp, Michael Wesp and Allen Wesp....He was preceded in death by his son William Wesp. Wally worked for Wisconsin Bell for 33 years. After retiring in 1980, he started Kettle Moraine Hardwoods with his sons....et cetera...."

Wesp, William; stone # 240; location J-32; b. 02 December 1950, d. 05 May 2006; also on headstone: "Son" [of Walter and Audrey Wesp; see previous entry]; Milw. J/S obit on 07 May 2006: "William J. 'Bill' Wesp. Age 55, of Elizabeth, IL for the past 33 years, formerly of Menomonee Falls passed away May 5, 2006, after a courageous battle with cancer. Loving son of Walter and Audrey Wesp. Caring brother of James (Joanne) Wesp, Jean (Ron) HUmphreys, Mary (Peter) Rohr and Robert (Doreen) Wesp. Further survived by 15 nieces and nephews, an uncle, aunts, other relatives and friends. Visitation held Mon., May 8, from 4-7PM, AT THE FUNERAL HOME with Parish Prayers at 7PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tue., May 9, at 10AM, at St. Gabriel Parish, 1200 St. Gabriel Way, Hubertus (meet at church). Burial to follow at St. Columba Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in Bill's memory for the St. Gabriel Parish Church Building Fund. SCHMIDT and BARTELT A.A. Schmidt & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services W250 N6505 Hwy 164 Sussex 262-246-4774."

Whelan, Everett J.; stone # 282; location L-6; b. no date, d. 20 July 1960; husband of Florence A. Whelan (see next entry); descendant of the "Monches Whelan's"; Memorial card: In Loving Remembrance of Everett J. Whelan, born April 14, 1899, died July 20, 1960; NCH comments: "Whelan, Everett J., 7-20-1960, wife Florence, parents Peter and Mary Agnes Whelan, 61 yrs., born Monches 4-14-1899, married Florence O'Keane Lake Five 11-20-1937, lived Milwaukee until 1957 and West Bend last 2 yrs., retired service station operator, brothers: Rev. Lincoln Whelan, Robert, sisters: Sr. M. Majello O.P. and Mrs. Mary Agnes (William) Whelan

[note: stone # 282 has 2 listings: Everett J. Whelan and Florence A. Whelan]

Whelan, Florence A.; stone # 282; location L-6; b. no date, d. 22 June 1977; nee: O'Keane; Mrs. Everett J. Whelan (see previous entry); Memorial card: In Loving Remembrance of Florence O. Whelan born October 4, 1892, died June 22, 1977, services June 25, 1977, St. Columba's Church, Lake Five, interment church cemetery; Milw. J/S obit: Whelan, Florence (Nee O'Keane) of Germantown. Wed., June 22nd. Wife of the late Everett Whelan. Beloved daughter of the late James and Anna O'Keane. Dear sister of Ellen Whelan, James and John O'Keane....et cetera....

Whipp, Catherine; stone # 93; location F-12; b. 1880, d. 1903; wife of Edward F. Whipp; nee: Prendergast; daughter of James Prendergast and Mary Jane (O'Keane) (Cosgrove) Prendergast; mother of Leo Whipp

Wilfer, Donald R.; stone # 278; location L-4; b. 1948, d. 1977; son of Robert and Madelon Wilfer (see next two entries)

[note: stone # 278 has 3 listings: Donald R. Wilfer, Madelon Wilfer and Robert Wilfer]

Wilfer, Madelon; stone # 278; location L-4; b. 1918, d. 19 June 1997; nee: McCarthy; Mrs. Robert Wilfter (see next entry)

Wilfer, Robert; stone # 278; location L-4; b. 1919, d. 2007; husband of Madelon Wilfer (see previous entry); Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel Obituary: "Wilfer, Robert F. 'Bob' owned and operated The Village Smithy in Colgate for many years. Passed away and went home to the Lord on Nov. 23, 2007. Age 88 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Madelon. Loving father of Ron (his former daughter-in-law, Jean) and the late Donald. Proud grandpa of Todd, Gregg, Ryan and Brenda Wilfer and great-grandpa of Hayley and Reese Wilfer. Dear brother of Russell (Laura) Wilfer and the late Earl (Dorothy) Wilfer. He is also survived by his dear friend, Priscilla Guenther. Further survived by other relatives and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wed., Nov. 28 at St. Gabriel Parish, 1200 St. Gabriel Way, Hubertus (corner of Hwy 164 and Hubertus Rd.) at 11 AM. Visitation at the Church from 9 AM until time of Mass. Burial will follow at St. Columba's Church Cemtery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Church are appreciated. Bob was a member of the Richfield Lion's Club and he was a 4th Degree Member of the Menomonee Falls Knights of Columbus...."

Wilke, Evelyn; stone # 247; location K-6; b. 1902, d. 1949; nee: Noller

Winninghoff, Alice L.; stone # 290; location L-12; b. 06 October 1875, d. 15 September 1957

Wolf, Allen; stone # 253; location K-14; b. 15 October 1945, d. 23 May 1951; also on headstone: "Son" [of Lawrence and Marie Wolf]

[note: stone # 253 has 4 listings: Allen Wolf, Lawrence Wolf, Marie Wolf and Richard Wolf]

Wolf, Lawrence; stone # 253; location K-14; b. 24 February 1915, d. 30 December 1975; husband of Marie Wolf (see next entry); also on headstone: "Father"

Wolf, Marie; stone # 253; location K-14; b. 21 October 1918, d. 23 September 1991; nee: Hansen; Mrs. Lawrence Wolf (see previous entry); also on headstone: "Mother"; NCH comments: "Wolf Marie A., 9-23-1991, 72 yrs., died of injuries suffered when car...collided with [another] car [on] Sept. 3rd by Highway J [currently Highway 164] and Monches Rd., nee Hansen, wife of late Lawrence P., he died 1975, mother of Marilyn (David) Janzer of Colgate and Lawrence (Marlene) Hartford, 7 grandchildren, 4 sisters: Lorraine (Harvey) Hembel, Milwaukee, Lucille (Lawrence) Neureuther of Menomonee Falls, Alma (Robert) Sterr of Hartland and Theresa Courtney of Pewaukee, 2 brothers: LaVerne (Mary) Hansen and Francis (Katherine) Hansen both of Colgate, 1 brother-in-law: Ken Bilgo Menomonee Falls, sister-in-law: Grace Hansen, Hubertus, born Richfield 10-21-1918 to Frank and Anna Stuettgen Hansen, married Lawrence Wolf 1942 St. Johns Monches, also dead are 2 sons, 2 brothers, 1 sister"

Wolf, Richard; stone # 253; location K-14; b. 14 August 1947, d. 20 May 1951; also on headstone: "Son" [of Lawrence and Marie Wolf]

Wood, Andrew Paul; stone # 279; location L-4; b. 28 June 1996, d. 28 June 1996; also on headstone: "our Angels"

[note: stone # 279 has 4 listings: Ellen A. Renner, Richard J. Renner, Andrew Paul and William Lucas Wood]

Wood, William Lucas; stone # 279; location L-4; b. 06 February 1997, d. 06 February 1997; also on headstone: "our Angels"

Location and Contact Information

If You Visit St. Columba Cemetery

Headstones listed on this blog are given a "letter" and a "number" to identify their location on an "x-y axis" layout.

The cemetery has 11 rows of headstones, labelled "A" through "L."
The rows run south-to-north, parallel to Highway 164. "Row A" is closest to Highway 164 (east) and "Row L" is farthest from Highway 164 (west), towards the Mobil gas station.
The north and south fences have letter markers attached to designate row location.

Headstones are also given a number to identify their approximate location, in paces (steps), away from the south fence (along County Line Q).

Headstones are also given a specific and unique number. For example, the headstone for James and Katherine McCartan is "# 96" (the 96th headstone to be recorded in an east-to-west row progression with a south-to-north movement along each row). The headstone is also designated as "F-18," to aid in locating the headstone in "row F" (the sixth row in from Highway 164) and about 18 paces in from the south fence, along County Line Q.

Please note that many headstones in the "oldest" (south) section of the cemetery are missing, so there may be many open spaces along a row of headstones.

Genealogical Research

The records on this blog are available free for your use in family research. Please credit this source.

Please contact us at okeane.robert@gmail.com for permission to use the material on this blog for other purposes.

As noted above, many headstones in the "oldest," south section of the cemetery are missing.
Sadly, records to identify who is buried in those open spaces is not available from St. Gabriel Parish which is the church maintaining the cemetery, nor from the Milwaukee Roman Catholic Archdiocese.

The Milwaukee Archdiocese Archivist responded to enquiries in 2004 that they would respond to individual enquiries, as time allows, when you submit the name of a specific, deceased person, including as much additional information as possible. (See their website at http://www.archmil.org/ .)

Another resource is available through the Latter Day Saints (LDS) Library. See their website at http://www.familysearch.org/ to find the library nearest you. From that library, you can order microfilm # 1871065 that contains records for St. John, Monches and St. Columba, Lake Five. Death records are only included for the years 1898 to 1920, but there are records for Baptisms (1845-1855, 1856-1879, 1884-1920, 1884-1894), First Communions (1908-1920), Confirmations (1898-1916, 1919-1920) and Marriages (1845-1854, 1858-1894, 1885-1920, 1871-1891).

Abbreviations used:
b. = born / date of birth
Co. = County
d. = died / date of death
m. = married /date of marriage
Milw. J/S = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper
NCH comments: = information provided by Nancy (Collins) Henke (R.I.P.), local historian
obit. = obituary / death notice
VS comments: = information provided by Vincent Sennott (R.I.P.), lifelong parish member and local historian
yrs. = years

Good luck with your efforts.

More Research Sources

Although St. John - "Monches" Roman Catholic Church does not provide research information for its former Mission Church---St. Columba, they have an interesting website that has cemetery listings for St. John's and nearby St. Clare's - "North Lake." The two parishes merged in 2006 and are now called St. Teresa of Calcutta.
Go to www.blteresaparish.org/ and click on the "Our History" selection along the left side of the website to find more local history.

The Menomonee Falls Library at http://home.mf.lib.wi.us/ is another good source for local history information.

St. Columba Parish History

St. Columba Roman Catholic Church, Lake Five, was a mission of St. John Church, Monches, according to the book "The Story of Washington County," by Carl Quickert. Both parishes were established in 1842 by the Reverend Martin Kundig, a Roman Catholic priest. Initially, Father Morrisey, a "circuit-riding" priest, said Mass in the home of John Donnelly on the shores of Lake Five.

Among the first members of the congregation were the families of Matthew Cosgrove, Patrick Flynn, Edward McCartan, John Fleming, Martin Claffey, Michael & John Redmond, John Donnelly, William Dunn and Michael Denney.

The name of the church, "St. Columba," is likely to be a reflection of the Irish heritage of many of the church's early members. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "Saint Columba," also known as "Columcille," was one of the twelve leading churchmen in Ireland's history. He was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and was a statesman, scholar, poet and founder of numerous churches and monasteries.

The original church, built in the mid-1800's, was a log structure. The second building, "the little, white church," was built around 1901. The newer, Lannon Stone church was built in 1972.

In 2002, St. Columba merged with two area churches, St. Hubert-Hubertus and St. Mary-Richfield, under edict by the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese, to form a new church, St. Gabriel, which is located about two and one-half miles north of the cemetery, just off State Road 164.

St. Gabriel Parish maintains the three original cemeteries and can be contacted at www.stgabrielhubertus.org , 262-628-1141, or St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 1200 Saint Gabriel Way, Hubertus, WI 53033. Office hours are listed on their website as: Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 3pm.

St. Columba Cemetery at "Lake Five," Wisconsin, USA

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

W