OSCAR A. ALTER

Oscar A. Alter, Trustee Company Head, Dies Here
Oscar A. Alter, 83, president of the East Wisconsin Trustee company,
and active for more than 60 years in the commercial and business live
of Manitowoc, died Sunday night at the home, 624 North Tenth street.
Mr. Alter continued active at his desk in the Trustee comany office
until last October, since which time he had been confined to his home.
Last December he retired as treasurer of the Masonic lodge here after
42 years in that office.
Funeral services for Mr. Alter will be held at the Masonic Temple at
2 p.m. Wednesday with interment in Evergreen cemetery.
Mr. Alter was born in this city in 1861 and spent his entire life
here. When a young man he was graduated from the Chicago School of
Pharmacy, and returning here opened a drug store on North Eighth street,
which he operated for many years. Later he became identified with the
Manitowoc Pickling company.
Organized Trustee Company
He, with the late Judge Emil Baensch, was one of the organizers of the
East Wisconsin Trustee company in 1907 and became the first secretary
and treasurer of the company. In 1939, on the death of Mr. Baensch,
Mr. Alter was named president of the company, a position he held up to
the present.
He was one of the members of the first board of directors of the
Manitowoc Building and Loan association and succeeded to the presidency
of that association when Mr. Baensch retired. For many years he was a
member of the Joint School district board which supervised operation of
the north side high school and the elementary schools before the
inception of the city system of schools here.
Mr. Alter also served several terms as secretary of the county fair
in the earlier days and represented the Fourth ward on the county board
for a number of terms.
Served Three Lodges
His Masonic affiliations were many and long continued. When he retired
late last year as an active officer of Manitowoc lodge No. 65, F. and
A.M. the members honored him by naming him treasurer emeritus for life.
He previously was secretary of the lodge and held the distinction of
having served in every elective office, including two terms as worship-
ful master. He was honored in 1933 by fellow Masons with a banquet on
the occasion of a 50-year membership.
At one time Mr. Alter served as treasurer for three Masonic lodges
here. No. 65, the Masonic Chapter and the Manitowoc Council, R. and
S.C. His mark of 61 years continuous service in various offices of the
Masons is believed to constitute a national record.
Two Sons Survive
Mr. Alter was a member of the Manitowoc lodge of Elks, and was also
a charter member of the Kiwanis club.
In 1884 Mr. Alter married Miss Dora Beer of this city. She died in
1919.
Survivors are two sons, Erwin, of Haversford Pa., and Eugene, of
Milwaukee.
The body may be viewed at the Frazier mortuary from 4 p.m. Tuesday
until Wednesday morning when it will be moved to the Masonic Temple
to lie in state until the hour of the services.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Monday, March 5, 1945 p.2
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[Oscar G. Alter/d. 4 Mar 1945/age 83 yrs]
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The Masonic order will pay tribute to one of its veteran members,
Oscar A. Alter, who has held every major office in the lodge, has
served as treasurer for 31 years and is now about to join the ranks
of the 50-year members.
On Friday, June 16, at the Masonic Temple, Mr. Alter will be honored
by the Masons with a testimonial dinner. There will be a 6:30 feed
followed by an interesting program. The principal occasion will be
the 50 years of continuous membership in the Masonic order.
When the last set of officers was installed last December in the
three Masonic lodges here Mr. Alter had the unique distinction of
being treasurer not only of Manitowoc lodge No. 65, but also the
Masonic Chapoter R.A.C. and of Manitowoc council R. and S.C.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Saturday, June 10, 1933 p.4