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F. Joseph and Angeline Mader Family

F. Joseph Mader 1907 – 1983

F. Joseph Mader
1907 – 1983

The first child of Joseph and Angeline Mader, F. Joseph was born December 30, 1907. Every morning when he was a boy, Joe would meet a farmer who delivered milk in his wagon. Joe helped him peddle it. He also helped his dad in the clothing store. Reminiscing, Joe had said, “I more or less grew up there, from a little boy on up I was down there delivering packages and working around”

In ca. 1931, Joseph and Esther Krunkenfeldt were married. Within seven years time the became the parents of five children: Janice, Delores, Angeline, John and Rosemary. When John was 2-3 weeks old he became ill with polio and developed Infantile Paralyses. Viola Winkel remembers that day. “Every Sunday Joe and Esther took my dad out for a ride. On Easter Sunday we were out riding when Esther said the baby was sick and it was polio.”

Only 32 years old, Esther died unexpectedly while in the hospital on March 8, 1944 leaving Joseph with five young children between the ages of twelve and six. This was too much for Joseph to cope with so the children went to the orphanage for a short time and then lived with their grandmother Angeline Mader. When they were older, they moved back home with their father. Viola said:

“Joe had a hard time when his wife died so early. It was rough for Joe and he grew depressed. I knew him as a younger man. Oh, he had a different personality then. His wife and I used to go with to the dances and had such a good time. He loved music.”

Joseph was a musician and for thirty years he directed “Joe Mader’s Dance Band”. He learned all about music by taking private coronet lessons when he was young.

In 1933, two years after his father died, Joseph went to work for his uncle Frank in the Mader Clothing Store selling men’s wear. “In the 30’s a vested suit sold for $14.95”, Joe recalled. After his uncle sold the store in 1951, Joe stayed on through several owners, not retiring until age 76 when the store closed it doors Monday, January 10, 1983. He had been a full time employee for 50 years.

“From now on, I want to take it easy, enjoy life. That’s it-period.” Joe had said. The next morning, January 11th, Joseph died of a heart attack in his home.

  1. Janice Mader was the first child born in 1932. She first married Dave Brieske who died in a drowning accident in 1956. They had the following three children:
    1. Barbara Brieske was born in 1952 and is married to Curt Sanders. He is a wholesale clothing salesman and they have four children:
      • Christopher Sanders
      • Jessica Sanders
      • Dustin Sanders
      • Katie Sanders
    2. Jo Ann Brieske was born in 1954. She is an actress performing with the Edge Water Dinner
      Theater in Minneapolis, Minn.
    3. Kathleen Brieske born in 1956, married Dan Gustafson. Dan is employed with Waste Water Works for the city of Racine. They have four children:
      • Joe Gustafson
      • Bob Gustafson
      • Bill Gustafson
      • Elizabeth Gustafson

      Janice’s second husband is Robert Auer who taught at Aquinas High School in La Crosse before moving to Racine, WI. He is now a counselor at Horlick High School and also owns Peppermint Gymnastics Studio. Janice teaches English at Case High School. They are the parents of five more children:

    4. Patricia Auer was born in 1960. She married Phil Mastos who is a cook in a Racine restaurant. They have two children
      • Melissa Mastos
      • Lindsey Mastos
    5. Aimee Auer born in 1961 and is a gymnastics coach
    6. Theresa Auer was born in 1962 and also is a gymnastics coach.
    7. Thomas Auer born in 1961 is a senior at the University of Iowa.
    8. John Auer was born in 1966 and is a Freshman at Stout in Menomonie, WI
  2. Delores Mader born in 1934, was first married to Robert Virnig who died suddenly in 1964. She then married Ernest Bowenkamp, Jr. They live in Des Moines, Iowa and have one daughter:
    1. Laura Jean born in 1973
  3. Angeline Mader was born in 1936. She married Alton Stelter, who is working for the U.S. Postal Service in Madison. They reside in Orfordville, WI and are the parents of five children:
    1. Steven Stelter born on September 1, 1954, married Cathleen. He is employed by the University of Arizona in Tuscon.
    2. Robin Stelter was born March 12, 1957. She married Tom Lancer. They are dairy farming and are the parents of twins.
      • ________Lancer born in October on 1982
      • ________Lancer
    3. Timothy Stelter was born January 26, 1961 and lives in Denver, Col.
    4. Eric Stelter born August 12, 1966 is employed by the U.S. Postal Service in Madison.
    5. Lynn Stelter was born December 17, 1968 and is a high school senior.
  4. John Mader was the only son born in 1937. As an infant he was stuck with polio. John recently got married and lives in Ankony, IA near Des Moines.
  5. Rosemary Mader was the last child born in 1938. She married John Holt. They were the new parents of a baby boy when Rosemary was killed in a car accident in
    1962.

    • Brondon Holt born in 1962.
F Henry and Anna Mader Family

Isabelle (Mader) Anderson 1905 –

Isabelle (Mader) Anderson
1905 –

Isabelle was the last child of F. Henry and Anna Mader born on October 1, 1905. Of three children, Isabelle was the only one to grow to adulthood.

On May 9, 1935, Isabelle was joined in marriage to Walter Anderson. He was the son of Andrew and Lena Anderson. Isabelle’s parents thought a lot of Walter. He owned Anderson Tire and Recapping located on State St. in La Crosse.

Walter and Isabelle lived at 1106 Winnebago when all three of their children; Stephen, Elizabeth, and Susan were born. In need of more bedrooms, they bought a home on 149 So. 23rd St. The children attended Blessed Sacrament School. Wally became interested in his son’s ball teams and became acquainted with Father Sullivan. This led him to become a convert.

The Anderson’s enjoyed playing euchre in the evenings with friends. Isabelle said, “We had a wonderful life together but it was too short.” Walter passed away in January of 1960.

Isabelle is in a wheel chair due to arthritis and lives with her daughter Susan at 808 So. 6th St. in La Crosse.

  1. Stephen Anderson was born December 15, 1935, the only son. He graduated from St. Mary’s College at Winona in 1959 and works for the WI Tax Dept. On June 18, 1955, he married Joan Schubert of La Crosse and they have three sons and two daughters:
    1. Mike Anderson–born May 20, 1956. He and his wife Shelley live in Wisconsin Rapids and have two children:
      • Bradley Anderson–born April 20, 1981
      • Lisa Anderson–born April 20, 1981
    2. Dan Anderson–born on Dec. 6, 1958. He and his wife Cindy have one child.
      • Lindsey Anderson–born July 29, 1986
    3. Patti Anderson–born Dec. 27, 1959, married Jeff Brown. They reside in Wisconsin Rapids, WI and had one child born in 1986.
    4. Tom Anderson–born in 1961. He is married to Cheryl and they have no children. They live in Minneapolis, MN.
    5. Joan Anderson–born in 1964. she is married to Tom Rehberg and they live in Wisconsin Rapids with one child:
      • Jeremy Rehberg–born Aug. 9, 1986
  2. Elizabeth Anderson was born on October 4, 1937. Betty is a nurse. She was first married in 1965 to Orvis Buchholtz of La Crosse. They had three children; Stephanie, Walter and Todd. Oliver died in 1970 and Betty married Robert Boenigk. Robert and Betty had one daughter, Lisa. Robert also passed away.
    1. Stephanie Buchholtz–born Dec. 30, 1958 and married Mike Galstad. They have two children:
      • Tiffany Galstad–born Dec. 9, 1976
      • Jeffrey Galstad–born July 16, 1979
    2. Walter Buchholtz–born May 3, 1960 and he and his wife Kathy are parents of two girls:
      • Nichole Buchholtz–born Sept. 21, 1983
      • Shannon Buchholtz–born Dec. 20, 1985
    3. Todd Buchholtz–born on July 11, 1963. He worked at the Country Kitchen on 7th and King Streets in La Crosse.
    4. Lisa Boenigk–born on Sept. 9 1968 and graduated from Logan High School.
  3. Susan Anderson was the youngest child born on Nov. 29, 1941. Susan never married. She works at the St. Francis Medical Center and lives at home taking care of her mother.
Dominick and Mary Mader Family

Mary (Mader) Herman 1889 – 1978

Mary (Mader) Herman
1889 – 1978

The last child of Dominick and Mary Mader. Mary (Mamie) was born March 9, 1889.

Mamie was the wife of Adolf Herman. They lived in Arvado, Colorado, and did not have any children. They owned a chicken ranch and later sold the land to the Academy in Colorado Springs.

When she died in May of 1978 at age 89, Mamie left an estate of over $200,000.00 and had money in 17 banks. She left money to both a Lutheran and a Catholic church, to numerous organizations in Colorado and in La Crosse, and also gave her nieces and nephews $10,000.00 each.

Frank Mader recalls seeing his Aunt only twice in his lifetime.

Dominick and Mary Mader Family

Dominick Mader Jr. 1886 – 1956

Dominick Mader Jr.
1886 – 1956

Dominick Jr. was the son of Dominick and Mary born on November 26, 1886. When he was young he helped his father in the brick yard and later on the farm.

Dominick Jr. was joined in marriage to Edith Moss. They were the parents of three children; Margaret, William, and Frank.

Frank remembers living in La Crosse first, where his father worked at People’s Ice and Fuel Co.. He was about eight years old when the family moved to the farm.

Having taken the farm back from Hyde and Funk, Dominick Jr. and his brother Arthur returned to farm it for their father, later purchasing it. One of the large tobacco sheds built by Hyde and Funk was converted into a barn,. the other was torn down. (Andy North and others on Losey Blvd. built their homes from this wood.) Dominick Jr. dairy farmed and sold dirt in town. The dirt was from the area where the race track used to be.

“Dad wasn’t used to driving a tractor. Once he came to the creek bank and hollered ‘Whoa’ to the tractor and it wouldn’t stop!” recalls Bill. “My dad was so easy going. He always smoked a corn cob pipe.”

To the south, just below the house, the Maders had a picnic area. (Where Hass Park is now.) Further away from the house on Dominick Jr.’s farm there was another small park where the downtown business men came every Thursday night for a party. Erickson Bakery, Bodega, and others belonged to the club and they always catered the food. The businessmen enjoyed it so much, eventually they ran power lines down to it for lights and played horseshoes until midnight.

This one particular night they said, “Come on down, Dom!” They had beer and shots until finally they had to carry Dominick home. His wife was so disgusted she told Bill to stay with his father because he was moaning and groaning so much he was going to die. The next morning he probably wished he had because his wife Edith lit into him! This was the only time Bill could remember his father drinking too much.

In ca. 1936, the family moved to 1406 Johnson St. in La Crosse. Dominick’s brother Arthur still remained on the farm.

Bill told this story:

“My mother went over to visit Angeline on 13th St. On the way back in the middle of the street on 15th and Farnam was a present all wrapped up. Ma picked it up, brought it home and opened it. She was surprised to find that it was chicken guts! The butcher shop had put it in the street as a joke to see who would pick it up. Ma wrapped the chicken guts back up and put the present back in the middle of the street. Then she stood behind a tree to see who would pick it up next!”

Dominick Jr. had a disagreement with Fr. Riesterer at Holy Trinity and the family quit going to church. Later, Fr. Plecity tried to get him to come back to the church.Bill recalled, “Dad would be laying on the porch after work and Mom would say, ‘Here comes that young priest again!’ My dad would duck out the back door and visit friends on the next block.”

They never owned a touring car. Earlier, Dominick Jr. drove the ice truck back and forth to work and in later years drove a pick-up.

At the age of 69, Dominick Jr. passed away in his home at 1923 S. 30th St. on Nov. 5, 1956. His wife Edith survived him.

Edith was a cook at Hillview Co. Hospital for many years. When she became old and needed care, she wanted to go to Hillview so that she could look out the window and see the family farm. She couldn’t go there because she had too much money so she went to Gunn Nursing Home instead. Edith was unhappy there and died three months later.

Dominick and Mary Mader Family

Henry Mader 1885 – 1954

Henry Mader
1885 – 1954

On February 8, 1885, Henry was born at home to Dominick and Mary Mader. When he was old enough, Henry and his younger brother Dominick, helped on the brick yard by carrying the mold from the molding table to the drying yard.

Henry married a girl whose surname was Grossbach. They had only one daughter, Rose. For some time, they lived at 1406 Johnson St. to care for his widowed mother in her old age.

“I never paid much attention to him. He was the kid of guy you didn’t really notice – like Uncle Arthur.” his nephew Bill Mader said. “He worked at the brewery.”

Henry was living at 1304 Vine St. when after a short illness he passed away April 30, 1954 at age 75.

Mader Family Stories

People’s Ice and Fuel Company, Grosch and Mader

People’s Ice and Fuel Company, Grosch and Mader

Grosch and Mader were partners in People’s Ice and Fuel Co.. All winter long, they harvested ice on the river and stored it in warehouses, packed in sawdust, where it stayed frozen until it was needed during the summer. The delivery of ice was primarily a summer business. The iceman would deliver blocks of ice to home iceboxes several times a week. In winter, they delivered fuel.

At first, the ice and fuel were delivered by horse and wagon. In 1914, Grosch and Mader bought one of the first trucks in La Crosse at a cost of $4,000.00. This would be about $85,000.00 today. The truck had an H.E. Wilcox motor, an all wood steering wheel, and wooden wheels with hard rubber tires. It was white with “Grosch and Mader” painted in bold lettering on the sides. (This truck still runs and is owned by Frank Mader.)

Later it became more practical to make ice artificially. This plant was located near the West Channel Bridge between La Crosse and La Crescent. The coming of electric refrigeration put an end to the ice block business.

Dominick and Mary Mader Family

August Mader 1884 – 1963

August Mader
1884 – 1963

August was born on the brick yard January 20, 1884 to Dominick and Mary Mader. As a boy his job in the brick yard was to drive the team on the mud wheel.

August was married to a girl named Mary who was a sister of Florence Riek. August and Mary did not have children.

“Gus must have been a real businessman.” Steve Mader said. (Frank’s son.) Gus owned a half interest in People’s Ice and Fuel Co. Originally the ice came from the river. Later, they opened an artificial plant. (Located on the Holiday Inn site between La Crescent and La Crosse.) When the ice business gave way to electric refrigeration, the company switched to the manufacturing of concrete block building units. They kept the same location.

Frank Mader worker on the river cutting ice for his uncle Gus when he was 17. After the service he worked for Gus again making concrete blocks.

Bill Mader remembers Uncle Gus coming out every Christmas to give them each a $2.00 bill. This stopped when they turned 18.

Gus and Mary belonged to a church that held seances and they were not allowed to eat meat. The church didn’t have many members. Gus bought the organ and put a lot of money into the church to keep it going.

Gus had an antique Studebaker. One night he came over to his nephew Frank and gave him the title in an envelope and said, “Someone stole the hubcaps so you may as well have the car before they steal it all?” It had 5,000 miles on it. He was too old to drive it anymore. (The car is still is possession of Frank Mader.) At the same time Gus sold him his old ice truck with the names “Grosch and Mader” on the side.

They lived on 16th and Jackson where Gus kept horses in a barn in the alley. In later years they moved across the street in the big white house on the NE corner where at age 79 Gus died December 23, 1963. He was survived by his wife Mary.

Dominick and Mary Mader Family

Arthur Mader 1880 – 1950

Arthur Mader
1880 – 1950

The first son of Dominick and Mary, Arthur was born April 24, 1880 on State Road Coulee. Growing up on the brick yard, his job as a boy was to build the fires in the kilns. When his father sold the brick yard, Arthur was 26 years old.

Arthur never married. The ten years the family lived on the farm he helped his father run it. Later he and his younger brother Dominick became partners and bought the farm.

“Uncle Arthur was a loner. He would work with Dad and not say a word.” Bill Mader said. “He was the kind of guy you didn’t pay much attention to.”

“Art used to come over to visit uninvited. The family dreaded to see him come because he would just sit and not talk but maybe that’s kind of a Mader trait.” reflects Ben Mader.

Bill recalls:

“No matter how much snow or how cold the weather, Uncle Arthur would walk from the farm (Arrow Head Village) to Holy Trinity for Sunday Mass. He always wore his big heavy overcoat and cap with earflaps on his head. After Mass he’d go over to Strasser’s Tavern and have three shots and then walk home.”

In a local hospital on May 31, 1950, Arthur passed away at age 70.

La Crosse Stories

The Stone Quarry on Grandad’s Bluff

The Stone Quarry on Grandad’s Bluff

A hundred feet or so to the left of the flag, the indentation of the tramway track now covered with shrubs and trees is still visible. The tramway was built in 1869.

The stone to be quarried was first stripped of its top soil, then dynamite was placed in holes made by a well drill to break the stone loose. Large chunks of stone were broken up by dynamite placed into holes made by an air drill. The stone was hauled down to the bottom by the unique tramway which consisted of two cars connected by a long cable. When the loaded car left the top the empty car at the bottom was pulled up. At the bottom the stone was dumped into a crusher and then carried on a belt to a rotation screen. The screen had different sections with openings of various sizes through which the crushed rock fell into bins. The finished product was transported by a railroad spur track. Andy North also worked at the quarry for eight years until it closed due to state regulations and the local objection to the destruction of the face of the bluff.

Caroline and Jacob Boma Family

Mary (Boma) North 1885 – 1938

Mary (Boma) North
1885 – 1938

Mary was the youngest child of Caroline and Jacob born in December of 1885. She was married to Emil North who was born in 1880.

Emil managed the stone quarry on grandad’s Bluff. They mined and broke the rocks on top of the bluff and lowered the rocks down on cable cars. Mary and Emil lived on 28th St. under Grand Dad’s Bluff. At that time there were only three houses there and a tavern. One was a boarding house for the workers. The tram track ran by the side of North’s house, which is where they crushed the rock. (The tavern is still there. The third house from the tavern was Emil and Mary’s, and the fifth house was the boarding house.)

Three children were born to the North’s; Andy in 1909, Marie in 1911, and Gladys in 1913.

“In those days, every Sunday families got together.’ Andy said. Ben Mader remembers going to North’s with the Boma’s in a horse drawn wagon.

Andy’s mother and dad told the following story:

“They were going up to Bliss Road to a party up the hill in horse and wagon. It was just a wagon road in those days and every so often a ditch ran across the road to drain the water. Theodore Mader sat on the tail of the wagon and in the back was a keg of beer. When they bound over the ditch the keg of beer rolled, knocking Theodore off with it, unknown to Emil and Mary until some distance further.”

Emil had a horse and buggy with a fringe on top. Andy said you had to be careful because when the last person stepped on the step of the buggy, the horse would take off!

At a homemaker meeting in 1938 at Sand Lake Coulee, Mary had just finished eating and sat down to play the organ or piano when she said, “My arm feels funny.” She died of a cerebral hemorrhage at age 52. Emil passed away seven years later.