Cenotaph here
~~~~
ALFRED F. SELL

Alfred F. Sell, Retired Rail Agent, Dead
Alfred F. Sell, 67, Soo Line Railroad supervising agent here since December of
1951, died Friday morning at Veterans Administration Hospital, Wood. He had
been hospitalized 10 years.
Mr. Sell, who came to Manitowoc from Superior, where he held a similar position
for the railroad, had retired Aug. 27, 1963, and had submitted to surgery shortly
thereafter. He was one of a number of traffic officials who had been honored
early in May of this year by the Manitowoc-Two Rivers Traffic Club at a dinner at
Alverno.
With the Soo since 1915, when he was a junior in high school at Glidden, Wis.,
where he was born Oct. 14, 1896, Mr. Sell was away from the railroad only during
the time he served in World War I. His parents were the late Carl A. and Elizabeth
Gerhardt Sell.
Heroic Achievement
He worked for $30 a month, he often recalled, as a station agent or clerk and as
a senior and after being graduated from high school he learned telegraphy. In
this capacity he served at various Soo stations in northern Wisconsin when logging
operations were intensively followed.
Mr. Sell took a leave of absence to serve in the first World War and was discharged
Aug. 4, 1919, as a sergeant serving with the 32nd Division in France, Mr. Sell was
one of seven soldiers cited by Gen. John J. Pershing for heroic achievement—laying
of communications lines between a battalion post and headquarters under severe
shelling and hazardous conditions.
On his return to the States, Mr. Sell became a train dispatcher at St. Paul, was
subsequently a station agent at Port Edwards and served successively as supervising
agent for the Soo at Marshfield, Eau Claire and Superior before coming to Manitowoc.
Survivors
A member of First Lutheran Church, Mr. Sell was a member of the church Men's
Brotherhood, Veterans of World War I, Rotary Club and Men's Garden Club. He also
was a member of Manitowoc Lodge No. 65, F&AM; Manitowoc Chapter No. 16, RAM. Manitowoc
Council No. 18, R&SM; Manitowoc Commandery N. 45, KT, Scottish Rite, 32nd Degree; Two
Rivers-Manitowoc Shrine Club and Tripoli Shrine Temple, Milwaukee.
He married Gladys Lewis Aug. 14, 1926, at Lakeland, Fla., and the couple established
residence at Eau Claire. At Manitowoc, the Sells resided at 1136 N. Sixth St.
Mrs. Sell survives along with two sons, Dr. Richard Sell and Frederick A. Sell, of
the city; a daughter, Mrs. William (Ruth) Berger, of Peoria, Ill.; a sister, Mrs.
Louis F. Bricco, of the city; two brothers, Dr. Alvin G. Sell, of Winterhaven, Fla.,
and Harry W. Sell, of St. Paul; five grandchildren and nieces and nephews. A brother,
Carl A. Sell Jr., preceded him in death.
Funeral Services
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at First Lutheran Church Chapel. The Rev.
Vernon Anderson will officiate and burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Graveside
military rites will be by Drews-Bleser Post No. 88, American Legion.
Friends may call at Jens Funeral Home after 3 p.m. Sunday until 10:30 a.m. Monday
when the casket will be moved to the church chapel where the body will lie in state
until time of service. Masonic memorial services will be conducted at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday and the Men's Brotherhood of the church will have a service at 9 p.m.
A memorial has been established in his memory for First Lutheran Church.
Manitowoc Herald Times, June 26, 1964 P.9
********
Funeral services for Alfred Sell, of 1113 N. Sixth St., Manitowoc,
who died at Veterans Hospital, Wood, Wis., Friday were at 1:30 p.m.
Monday at First Lutheran Church Chapel, the Rev. Vernon Anderson
officiating. Interment was in Evergreen Cemetery. The Drews-Bleser
Post of American Legion conducted military graveside rites.
Pallbearers were Walter Smith, Paul Morken, Abner Anderson, Rod
Hoard, Lloyd Olon and Donald Ma??.
Two Rivers Reporter, Tues., 30 June 1964, page 7-T
**********
[d. 6-26-1964/age 67 yrs./place of death: Wood, WI/
bur. on Mrs. Alfred F. Sell lot]