Anton H. Kelnhofer

Anton H. (Tony) Kelnhofer, age 101, Marshfield, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 1st at House of the Dove.

Funeral services with military rites will be on Tuesday, August 6th. The visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Paul Vander Galien officiating.

Pallbearers will be Tony’s grandchildren and great-grandson.

Born July 1st, 1923, to Frank and Nora Kelnhofer, Tony grew up on a farm, the oldest of five boys, but with five older sisters to watch over him.

Tony served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as an Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on the B25 Bomber. While serving in the European Theater, he was stationed in Africa, Italy, France, Austria, and Germany completing 32 bombing missions. Tony also participated in the ground liberation at Burchess Garden, Austria. He was honorably discharged after serving three years with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

After his military career, Tony married the former Irene Eva Huebner on September 17th, 1946. Irene passed away on December 4th, 1975.

Following his military service, Tony worked for Harold Gust Construction and as a self-employed carpenter. During this time, Tony and his young family owned a farm in the Town of Day. He then worked for Dick Weister Construction alongside his brother for over 30 years, until his retirement. Tony was a dedicated member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Town of Day for over sixty years, serving on the building committee and on the church council. Whenever the church needed work done, he was the first on hand to help. A lifelong love for the outdoors, Tony hunted and fished every day he could. Tributes to his hunting and fishing skills have been on his walls for decades and his legacy of those sports lives on in the next generations of his family. He was as passionate about his lawn as he was about hunting. His lawn was always cut and manicured to perfection.

He is survived by his children: Russell (Kathy) Kelnhofer, Plover, Ronald (Pattie) Kelnhofer, Marshfield, Ruth (Kelnhofer) Vogel, Marshfield; and a daughter-in-law, Sue Kelnhofer, Florida.

His grandchildren: Toni (Josh Bertsinger) White, Athens, Michael (Sara) Kelnhofer, Marshfield, Heidi (Kelnhofer) Fink, Oregon, WI, James Kelnhofer, Spencer, and Courtney Jean Engevold, Dubugue, IA; step-grandchildren, Charles King, Marshfield, and Melissa (Arnie) Schmidt, Wausau.

He is further survived by his great-grandchildren: Aubrey Kelnhofer, Elsa Kelnhofer, Brett Fink, Abigail Fink, Vayda Kelnhofer, Violet Kelnhofer, Trinity May Lindsey, Ethan Matthew Lindsey, Elijah Mekhi Lindsey, Ian Schmidt, Haylee Schmidt, and Elijah Schmidt.

Tony is preceded in death by his wife, Irene Kelnhofer; a son, Wayne Kelnhofer; son-in-law, James Vogel; his parents; and five sisters: Eleanor Offer, Marie Roum, Evelyn Matti, Loretta Biscorner, Isabel Grabe; as well as four brothers: Louis Kelnhofer, Lawrence Kelnhofer, Floyd Kelnhofer, and Roger Kelnhofer.

The family would like to thank the Veterans Administration staff of Tomah and Compassus at Home as well as Compassus House of the Dove who went above and beyond to support Tony and his family.

Memorials may be designated to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Stratford, or a charity of your choice.

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