Allamakee Biographies -Nursing Home Resident bios

"Resident of the Month"
Interviews featuring residents at the Postville Good Samaritan home.

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Transcribed by S. Ferrall for Allamakee co. IAGenWeb
Any notes following the biographies were added by S. Ferrall.

(A photo of Mrs. Baltz was printed with her bio., but it reproduced so poorly on the microfilm, it is not displayed here)

Theresia Dorothy Casten Baltz was born in Clayton County on March 12, 1891 to Lena and JOhn Casten. Being the only daughter with three younger and three older brothers, Theresia says her work was never done.

She kept busy, later working ten years at the Postville State Bank and then for many years with Dr. Kiesau.

Theresia and her husband August lived in the Postville area and had two children, Marquerite Casella (now of Chicago) and Lorenz (of California). Over the Christmas holidays, Theresia spent some time in Chicago with her daughter's family. she enjoyed visiting there with her two granddaughters, Linda and Michelle and her great-granddaughter, Gina. Theresia looks forward to another trip sometime in the future.

~Postville Herald, Wednesday, February 6, 1980 (column: Resident of the Month, Good Samaritan Center, Postville, Iowa)

Theresia Baltz obituary

The November spotlight focuses on Rosie Balzell, a resident of the Good Samaritan Center since September, 1970.

The daughter or Rudolph and Anna (Geitz) Rickleff, Rosie was born January 13, 1904* at Marquette and raised on a farm near Marquette, which was then called North McGregor. She attended the Pleasant Ridge County School at Marquette.

In February 1914, she married Amon Balzell. They lived for a time in rural Postville and then moved to a farm near Marquette. She loved gardening and canned everything. She also like to sew and spend her winter afternoons making quilts.

The Balzells had three children, Alta, Alica and Raymond who died in World War II.

Rosie has six grandchildren and two great grandchildren and enjoys all activities at the Center.

~Postville Herald, Wednesday, November 12, 1975 (column: Resident of the Month, Good Samaritan Center, Postville, Iowa)

~Note: her gravestone indicates year of birth was *1894
~Rosie Balzell obituary

The January spotlight focuses on Mrs. Linus (Lena) Berns at the Good Samaritan Center. Born in 1889? on a farm near Guttenberg, she was the daughter of John Bernhard and Mary Voss. She had one sister and one brother, both deceased.

On February 6, 1918 Lena married Linus J. Berns of Garnavillo in St. Mary's church in Guttenberg.

[illegible] their marriage they lived on a farm near National, Iowa. In [illegible] they moved on a farm 1 1/2 miles south of Luana. They had one daughter, Rose Marie.
In 1945 they moved to Monona. Her husband died November 12, 1968. She is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic church and Rosary Society in Monona.

Her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Viazny and two grandchildren Joe and Mary Ann live on a farm three miles southeast of Monona.

Mrs. Berns has been a resident at the Center since February 19, 1973. She is active in most of the activities and especially likes bingo.

~Postville Herald, Wednesday, January 8, 1975 (column: Resident of the Month, Good Samaritan Center, Postville, Iowa)

~Lena Berns obituary

The spotlight this month focuses on Anna Bigler, who has been a resident of the center since September 4, 1973.

Anna Swenson was born August 21, 1876 on the farm now owned by Cloy Lawson, northeast of Postville. When she was three years old the family moved to South Dakota where they lived for several months. They returned to the Postville area and lived in what was known as the "Old Stone House," which was destroyed by fire some time ago.

Anna's parents purchased the farm now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Vic Sebastian and Anna attended the West Grove school. After schooling, she and her sisters helped several families with house work.

On February 22, 1898, Anna was married to Henry Bigler at her home. To this union five children were born, two daughters and three sons.

The couple farmed near Elgin nine years when they purchased their farm in Grand Meadow township. Lloyd Bigler now resides on the farm which has been in the family 67 years.

Anna has nine grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. She enjoys many of the activities at the center.

~Postville Herald, Wednesday, December 18, 1974 (column: Resident of the Month, Good Samaritan Center, Postville, Iowa)

~Anna Bigler's Obituary
~Henry Bigler's Obituary

This month the spotlight at the Good Samaritan Ceneter, Postville, shines on Mrs. Dorothy Boese. She has been a resident since June 12, 1969.

Dorothy was born at National, Iowa. Her parents were Joe and Mary Freeman. they had three brothers and four sisters. The family moved to Postville when she was about 12 years old.

Dorothy and Robert Boese were married at Waukon and made their home in Postville. The family home is the Norman Johnson residence. There were nine children - seven boys and two girls. One boy died in his youth. Leo, a son, and Dorothy, a daughter both live in Postville. Dorothy says the last she knew she had 14 grandchildren.

Dorothy suffered a stroke in 1965 and went to live at the Good Samaritan Center in West Union. When the Postville Center opened she came back to her home town. In spite of partial paralysis, Dorothy is very active and takes part in all activities.

~Postville Herald, Wednesday, December 27, 1972 (column: Resident of the Month, Good Samaritan Center, Postville, Iowa)

~Dorothy Boese's Obituary
~Robert Boese's Obituary

The spotlight this month at the Good Samaritan Ceneter focuses on George R. Brainard, who has resided at the Center a little over a year.

George was born December 18, 1893. He was one of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Edgar R.A. Brainard. One sister, Mrs. Genevieve Petrie of Chicago, is still living. He lived on the farm where he was born until moving to the Center. Mrs. Brainard died in February of this year. He has ten children, 42 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

George is a member of the Community Presbyterian Church in Postville.

An avid sports fan, he attended the school's sports events until failing health prevented him doing so. He always enjoyed traveling around Northeast Iowa and the Mississippi River area, appreciative of its beauty and development. Enjoys reading, listening to the radio, keeping informed on current affairs and also enjoys playing bingo at the Center.

~Postville Herald, Wednesday, October 9, 1974 (column: Resident of the Month, Good Samaritan Center, Postville, Iowa)

~George Brainard's Obituary
~Eva (Smith) Brainard's Obituary