Woehl Family History & Genealogy

Edwin John Woehl was born February 4, 1919 at Colome, South Dakota to John and Mary (Bohnet) Woehl and he died July 9, 2005 at the Gregory Healthcare Center in Gregory, South Dakota at the age of 86 years, 5 months and 5 days. In 1920, Edwins parents moved the family to a farm south of Burke, South Dakota, where he was raised. He attended country school through the eighth grade. He enrolled in Burke High School for one year and decided, This is not for me. He showed at an early age interest in inventing things, being referred to by his teacher, Mrs. Cass Graham as My little Edison. She could see that sitting quietly at a desk doing lessons wasnt Eds thing, which made it tough keeping order in a one room school house. Yet, give him a scrap of wood, some rusty nuts, and some bolts and there was no telling what his inventive hands might produce. Ed joined the CCC in Blue Bell, South Dakota on October 20, 1937 as a sawmill operator, and he was discharged on March 31, 1939. On July 26, 1940 he enlisted in the military and was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he taught classes in photography at an army base. He spent three years in Alaska and from there he was stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was one of the escorts for President Franklin D. Roosevelts funeral. From Georgia, he was honorably discharged at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin on August 25, 1945. After VJ Day, Edwin headed for Chicago, which was his home until May 25, 2002. He opened a camera store in 1951, which developed into more than just a camera store. Word of mouth of his stores rather eccentric collection reached national boundaries. He discovered that the cities basements and attics were a treasure trove for older equipment. Some of the old cameras might have been banged up or allowed to rust, but given Eds magic hands, it was a snap for him to put them back in working order. His knack, he noted, is a family inheritance. Sometimes he would find himself with a camera that was beyond restoration, even though some parts were still usable. So he would experiment with mating, taking a lens from one camera and a shutter from a second, and splicing the parts together, then splicing those parts to a film transport from yet another camera. He got so good at his craft that he could take many pieces of several camera lenses and assemble them into a fish-eye, or a wide angle lens, a task usually preformed by computers and hi-tech optical equipment. In all, he built nine cameras. He had a man come into his store one day who was from Germany. Ed asked him how he had heard about his store and he said some guy in Berlin told him about it. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. Ed is survived by his sisters: Esther Biggins of Gregory, SD: Elsie Rauscher of Sacramento, CA; Edna Woehl of Gregory, SD; Martha Elwart and Mary Ellen Schad, both of Chicago, IL; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 13, 2005 at 11:00 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Burke, SD. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Burke. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 to 8 PM at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke and prior to the services on Wednesday at the Church.

Fred H Woehl of Springfield, Greene County, MO was born on May 15, 1925, and died at age 67 years old in April 1993.

Marvin Woehl of McAllen, Hidalgo County, TX was born on August 16, 1920, and died at age 62 years old in December 1982.

Joseph A Woehl of Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA was born on May 11, 1899 in Manhattan County, NY, and died at age 88 years old in July 1987.

Emma Woehl of Bronx, Bronx County, NY was born on March 5, 1878, and died at age 90 years old in May 1968.

George Woehl of Buffalo, Erie County, NY was born on December 10, 1869, and died at age 98 years old in May 1968.

Arthur L Woehl of Buffalo, Erie County, NY was born on September 20, 1901, and died at age 65 years old in March 1967.

Genevieve I Woehl of Lapeer, Lapeer County, MI was born on April 21, 1937, and died at age 72 years old on September 14, 2009.

Fanny Woehl of Buffalo, Erie County, NY was born on March 24, 1893, and died at age 91 years old in March 1984.

Joseph Woehl of Paupack, Pike County, PA was born on March 17, 1939, and died at age 62 years old on March 15, 2002.

Sylvesta Woehl was born on October 2, 1922, and died at age 82 years old on June 30, 2005. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Sylvesta Woehl.

Grant E Woehl was born on March 5, 1933, and died at age 63 years old on November 15, 1996. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Grant E Woehl.

Florence Woehl was born on December 18, 1891, and died at age 88 years old in July 1980. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Florence Woehl.

Harry Woehl was born on May 22, 1917, and died at age 47 years old in May 1964. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Harry Woehl.

Martin Woehl of Clinton Township, Macomb County, Michigan was born on June 28, 1916, and died at age 70 years old in March 1987.

Joseph J Woehl of Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA was born on February 25, 1931, and died at age 68 years old on May 1, 1999.

Raymond Woehl of Birmingham, Oakland County, Michigan was born on June 9, 1909, and died at age 69 years old in July 1978.

Ruth F Woehl of Southfield, Oakland County, MI was born on April 22, 1903, and died at age 98 years old on July 25, 2001.

Marjorie R Woehl of Paoli, Chester County, PA was born on July 27, 1925, and died at age 83 years old on October 8, 2008.

Adrian Woehl of California was born on April 24, 1910, and died at age 62 years old in July 1972.