William A Wieboldt - Obituary 1954

William A Wieboldt - Obituary 1954

From NewsBank America's Obituaries and Death Notices:

"Chicago Tribune,"

in Chicago, Illinois,

dated 11 December 1954:

A public memorial service

for William A Wieboldt, 97, of the Homestead, Evanston,

merchant and philanthropist,

will be held at 4:30 pm tomorrow

in St Paul's church, 655 Fullerton pkwy.

The funeral will be private.

Mr Wieboldt died Thursday in Evanston hospital,

which he had entered several days ago.

He was the founder of the Wieboldt Stores, Inc.

Mr Wieboldt was born March 8, 1857 in Altenbruch Germany,

and came to Chicago in 1871 at the age of 14.

He rose from store clerk to multimillionaire,

and gave millions to philanthropic causes.

Opened Store in 1883.

He spent 12 years in a Blue Island avenue general merchandise store

learning the business.

In 1883, at 26, he married Anna Louise Krueger and a week later, having saved $2,600, opened a general store with his bride as partner and helper.

Today six large department stores in Chicago, Oak Park, and Evanston

are the outgrowth of that modest start.

Mr Wieboldt made millions with his simple business code:

"Be a friendly man and furnish friendly service to assure success."

He said, "My heart is in the neighborhood store.

Then I'm part of the community."

Mr Wieboldt retired from active management in 1923

but continued to attend board meetings

and retained an active interest in the business.

His son Werner became president.

Foundation Set in 1921

But Mr Wieboldt had another major interest.

In 1921 he and Mrs Wieboldt gave 5 million dollars to start the Wieboldt Foundation,

an organization to aid charitable, civic, and educational enterprises.

Mr Wieboldt declared that the foundation was a method of returning to the Chicago area much of the wealth he amassed in it.

He leaves:

His widow,

Three sons:

Werner Wieboldt, chairman of the firm's board and head of the foundation;

Elmer Wieboldt, and

Raymond Wieboldt;

Two daughters:

Mrs Anna Straub and

Mrs Florence Sieck,

23 grandchildren.

From Newspaper Archive:

"The Stars and Stripes,"

dated Sunday December 12, 1954,

page 7:

W Wieboldt Dies

Evanston Illinois - Dec 11, 1954 -

William A Wieboldt, 97,

German-born merchant who pyramided a small variety store

into one of the Chicago's largest retail-store systems,

died in an Evanston hospital.

He entered the hospital Nov 5, 1954 for treatment of a heart ailment.

Born March 8, 1857 in Altenbruch, near Hanover,

Wieboldt came to America at 14 year,

and went to work for an uncle who was in the merchandizing business in Chicago.

In addition to building his department store empire,

Wieboldt established the multi-millionaire dollar Wieboldt Foundation,

a philanthropic organization which provided financial aid

for educational development, employment and vocational guidance organizations,

health agencies and group works.

Distribution of the foundation's funds was limited to the greater Chicago area.