Leo Turner Hufschmidt 1887-1954

HUFSCHMIDT, BROPHY, NIELANDER, LEHREND, TURNER

Posted By: Errin Wilker (email)
Date: 3/9/2011 at 21:34:18

Submitter is not related to the deceased and has no further information.

HUFSCHMIDT’S DEATH SUDDEN IN CHICAGO
Leo Hufschmidt, 67, prominent Lansing manufacturer who died of a sudden heart attack at the Palmer House in Chicago Saturday morning, was laid to rest this afternoon in the Hufschmidt lot at Oak Hill cemetery where his parents and. grandparents lie. He had spent his life at Lansing, near the river he loved, and had been able to do many things for the people of his home town and county.

President or the Lansing Company, manufacturers of buttons and toys, Mr. Hufschmidt had been in Chicago last week for a meeting of his salesmen. Mrs. Hufschmidt joined him in the city Tuesday evening and they enjoyed a few days together the latter part of the week, attending the theater together Friday evening. Following breakfast in their room Saturday morning, Mr. Hufschmidt telephoned Frances Brophy at Lansing, saying they would be home that evening. Shortly afterward he suffered a sudden and fatal heart attack.

He lay in state at the home where he lived since he was two years old until the hour of the funeral held at 2 o'clock Tuesday from Federated church with the Rev. Mr. .John Creps officiating. Burke funeral service was in charge.

Active pallbearers, all from the Lansing company, were Norbert Spinner, Carl .Slindee, Alen Bjerke, Ralph Hanson and John Beck. Honorary pallbearers were Harold W. Gaunitz, Walter Aschom, Theodore A. Kerndt, Eugene Brennan, Louis Schmidt of Strawberry Point, Phil Gaines of Cedar Rapids, George Kaufman and Ben Sweeney.

Mr. Hufschrnidt leaves his wife, the former Mae Brophy, to whom he was married June 17, 1917. There are three cousins remaining, Adela Hufschmidt of Lansing, Mrs. Elsie Nielander of Spring Valley, Minn.; and Mrs. Carl Lehrend of Bozeman, Montana.

Mr. Hufschmidt came of pioneer stock, closely associated with the development of this area. He was born at the famous Dousman Hotel at Prairie du Chien, where his grandfather, C.W. Hufschmidt was innkeeper in the early days. His mother, the former Julia Turner, daughter of Capt. J. M. Turner, died at his birth, and his father, Charles Hufschmidt, lived in Milwaukee and New York City after her death. Leo was brought to Lansing to be reared by his grandparents, Capt. and Mrs. Turner, living on River Street in the present Olson house until he was 2 years old. Since that time he had lived in his present home on the river front, near the berth of the Mary Lee II boat which was his much-enjoyed hobby.

Mr. Hufschmidt was a graduate of Lansing High School in the class of 1904, which celebrated its golden anniversary this summer. Soon after he completed his schooling he went into the Lansing Button Company which had been founded in 1897 by his grandfather, learning the business from stock boy up. His inventive genius led him into many fields of development of the company, which manufactures toys of many kinds
today, using modern materials and methods. During World War II the toy line was made of woods and other substitute materials, but since that time has been chiefly an aluminum line.

He was an active sportsman and was often host to hunting and fishing parties on his river boat. A member of the Masonic lodge, Mr. Hufschmidt had a keen interest in his home town and modern developments for it.

THE PASSERBY
By L.K.

Leo Hufschmidt, who did so much for Allamakee county, and his home town of Lansing, is gone, and the spirit of Christmas, which meant so much to him, will be dimmed this year by his going. Memories of a happy childhood, with glamorous Christmases to remember, made the holiday season one of his favorites, and he had the pleasure of using his inventive genius in many ways toward making Christmas happy for thousands of boys and girls all over the world through the Slik-Toys which his company manufactures. He was a helper to Santa Claus at Christmas time, and extended its giving spirit throughout the year, all his life. The degree to which he will be missed will be one of his living memorials in the hearts of those who remember him as a friend.

LEO HUFSCHMIDT -- THE BUILDER, THE FRIEND
By Leslie Hull

The captain has left us.

It was last Saturday that he said goodbye to his home, his family, and his friends, and set a true course for that Great Beyond--and I like to think it was in much the same frame of mind that I have seen him take out the Mary Lee II, when with many of his friends aboard, or in the anticipation that they would be picked up a few minutes later--he planned to ''ride the river". For he never wanted. to go alone. His happiness was the happiness of his friends, and his great love was the Mississippi--the great river on which he was born, and near which he spent most of his life.

I write of Leo Hufschmidt--the builder, the thinker, and the tried and true friend.

Leo was buried Tuesday. He died last Saturday in Chicago of a heart attack just a short time after he had called his office and told them that he and his wife would reach home that night. He put back the phone, and minutes later it was over.

Largely a self-made man, Leo dedicated his life to the community in which he lived. That was Lansing, Iowa, where he was raised. Born at Prairie du Chien, his mother died at his birth, and later Leo was taken to Lansing to live with his grandparents, Captain and Mrs. Turner. His grandfather was an old-time river captain, and from him it is possible that Leo got his love for the "big river".

It is a privilege given to few people to know such a man--to call him a friend--and to know, that no matter how heavily the worries or cares of his own responsibilities weighed, he always had time to listen to the troubles of others--to give of his patience, his wisdom. and his understanding--that the troubles of his friend might seem lighter, and that another day might bring forth a new understanding.

The Lansing Company--probably Allamakee county's outstanding industry--is largely the result of Leo's vision, started as a pearl button factory, he was one of the first to foresee that the industry was doomed, and in accordance with that thinking, he looked to wider horizons. In order that those people who depended upon the factory for their living could live and go on as Americans, he changed during World War II to another medium, and as the end of the war heralded the approach of better times, again the policy of the company was changed, until today it is one of the great factories of the Middle West--selling buttons by the millions--and what is more important, making toys of aluminum, of plastic, and others--truly a friend of Santa Claus, and of his state and of his nation.

Yes, I have been aboard with him many times, and every time was fun. Leo’s only worry was that perhaps someone was not having a good time. I can see him yet--taking a little trip through the boat--with that little familiar smile so many of us remember--just to be sure.

The world is richer for men like Leo Hufschmidt. For in just knowing him, our lives are made better--our outlook becomes wider, and we are able to look ahead, as he did--so many times, when men of lesser vision would have given up.

I’m glad I knew Leo. He has given me something which I hope I never lose. And that is a breadth of understanding--of tolerance--and of faith. He was buried Tuesday, but many years will pass before his wonderful friendship will be forgotten.

With this we say goodbye, for we know that the buoys are set aright and the channel is clear.

Source: Article glued in my great-aunt's scrapbook.

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