Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 5 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 37

Erwin A. Piepenbrink, member of the firm of Piepenbrink & Roehr and vice president of the Wisconsin Mutual Liability Company, of which he was one of the organizers in 1912, was born at South Bend, Indiana, August 12, 1890. His father, William J. Piepenbrink, is a native of Port Wayne, Indiana, and a chemist by profession. He now makes his home in Milwaukee, where he has resided for a number of years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Julia Knothe, is also a native of Fort Wayne.

For a number of years in their early married life the parents resided at South Bend and there Erwin A. Piepenbrink began his education in the public schools. Later he became a student in the high school at Grand Rapids, Michigan, and when in his school days he became identified with the insurance business as an employee of the firm of Chris Schroeder & Sons, with whom he remained for six years and gradually worked his way upward, his successive promotions bringing him to the position of manager of the casualty department with that firm. In 1912 he became associated with Roland B. Roehr in the insurance business, under the firm name of Piepenbrink & Roehr. In 1913 this firm organized the Wisconsin .Mutual Liability Company of Milwaukee, of which he is the vice president and for which his firm acts as general manager. The splendid organization built up, the thorough and systematic methods employed and the unfaltering enterprise of .the men at the head, have made this business one of the important corporate interests of the city.

On the 3rd of January, 1920, Mr. Piepenbrink was married to Miss Florence Krebs, a daughter of Michael Krebs of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, who is a retired farmer.

.Mr. Piepenbrink, responding to his country's call at the time of the World war, served in the Main Training Depot at the Machine Gun Training Center at Camp Hancock, Georgia, where he became regimental sergeant major. He received his discharge January 15, 1919. In politics Mr. Piepenbrink has always maintained an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than for party. He is a Lutheran in religious faith and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He also belongs to the Milwaukee Athletic Club, to the Association of Commerce, to the Milwaukee Board of Fire Underwriters and the Insurance Federation of Wisconsin. These connections manifest the nature, character and breadth of his interests and the principles that guide him in the relations of life. He enjoys fishing and all outdoor sports and finds keen pleasure in literature, but these are not allowed to interfere with the faithful performance of his duties in connection with the upbuilding of his business, and through his enterprise and diligence he has won a substantial position in the financial circles of his adopted city.