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Culligan’s First Female Culligan Dealer Passes Away at 105
There’s plenty more to Culligan’s legacy than water filtration.
Without the men and women who’ve developed the company and its expertise in the industry, Culligan would be little more than a brand name. Last month, the Culligan system lost one of its longtime greats, Lucille Neubert.
Lucille, who passed away on December 12 at the age of 105, became Culligan’s first female franchise owner in 1939 when she and her husband, Merle Sophy, acquired the Mankato, Minnesota dealership from Culligan’s founder, Emmett J. Culligan. At the time, it was just the ninth franchise in the country.
The dealership in Mankato has remained in the family for three generations.
Lucille was twice widowed before marrying Clarence Neubert and settling in Arizona. Lucille’s son, Michael Sophy, who remains part owner of Culligan of Mankato along with his son, said his mother was an avid gardener and pianist, and loved to travel the world.
Culligan International is grateful for its Culligan men and women, and thanks Lucille’s family for their years of dedicated service. She’ll be missed within the Culligan family.
