Obituaries

Carl R. F. Birkholz, 82, of rural Elkhart Lake, Wi., passed away unexpectedly early on the morning of January 21, 2012 at St Nicholas Hospital.
Carl was born to Helen (Kunze) Birkholz and Carl Richard Birkholz in Elmherst, Illinois on January 18, 1930. Carl was the second of "the boys" which include Richard, Donald and Paul. Being an Army family they lived many places throughout Illinois, Upper Michigan and Wisconsin. They settled in rural Elkhart Lake on a 240 acre farm in 1946.
A life changing event that was forever present in his thoughts was being drafted June 1951 into the Army and serving in the Korean Conflict. He achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class in 13 months as a combat engineer with the 3rd Infantry Division. During his service he was awarded a Bronze Star and the Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, among other awards.
He fondly remembered being involved with the Boy Scouts as a Scout Master with three of his scouts achieving Eagle Scout status.
Carl was employed by Knowles Manufacturing Company Glenbeulah, Wi. as the shipping foreman for 33 years. He enjoyed explaining that their products were shipped throughout the world.
The farm was Carl's life. Carl had many interests; raising dairy and beef cattle, Tamworth hogs, chickens, assorted fowl and was also an avid bee keeper. He experimented extensively in propagating different crops, trees and botanical species. Over his lifetime he planted thousands of trees. He was a member of the Sheboygan County Beekeeper Association, Farm Bureau (50+ years), Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association, Seed Savers Association, Town of Russel Planning Board and a life member of the VFW.
Carl married Susan C. Szymanski on April 4, 1964 in Wheaton, Illinois. They were blessed with three children; daughters Anna Birkholz, Plymouth, Beth Birkholz, rural Elkhart Lake; grandson Benjamin Hardin (U.S. Army, Ft. Lee, Virginia) , and son Kurt Birkholz (Jayne) rural Elkhart Lake; grandson Wilhelm Birkholz. He is further survived by brothers Richard (Donna) Birkholz Van Dyne, Wi., Donald Birkholz rural Elkhart Lake, and Paul(Nanci) Birkholz Fond Du Lac as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister in law Marie Birkholz and his wife's parents Peter and Irene Szymanski.
Funeral services will be held at 6 PM on Friday, January 27, 2012 at the Schneider Funeral Home & Life Tributes (123 South Street) Plymouth with the Rev. Peter Peitsch, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elkhart Lake, officiating. Friends may call on Friday at the funeral home from 3 PM until the time of service.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers a plant/tree be planted or donations to the Arbor Day Foundation be made in his name. When you plant a tree Carl would smile and say "Job well done!"