Weihe, John C. 1872 - 1937

WEIHE, JACOBS, SCHULTZ, SCHEPPLE, MEYER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 9/16/2012 at 16:34:14

Postville Herald, Thur., Dec. 30, 1937.
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John C. Weihe, Community Leader Here, Passes On. Stricken Suddenly At Home On Christmas Morning; Funeral Held Tuesday.

This community mourns the passing on of John C. Weihe, community, business and church leader, which occured suddenly on Christmas morning while Mr. Weihe was working about his farmstead in Grand Meadow township. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the home, where the Rev. E. Bockelmann, D.D., of Milwakee, former pastor here, officiated, and from St. Paul's Lutheran church, where the services were conducted by the Rev. Fred Ludwig of Mount Pulaski, Ill., pastor-elect of the local church. Interment was made in the Postville cemetery and the large assemblage at the services attested as nothing else could the high regard in which the decesed was held in the community. Active pallbearers were George Kohlman, L. O. Beucher, Arthur Palas, E. C. Marston, Elmer Drahn and John L. Gregg. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Big-4 fair board, Citizens State Bank board, St. Paul's church council, Grand Meadow school board and of the Postville hospital board.

Mr. Weihe is survived by his widow, Mrs. Caroline Weihe, four sons, Clarence, LeRoy, Orville and Clifton, one daughter and son-in-law, Viola and Cloy Schultz, six grandchildren, three brothers, William, Charles and Elmer, one sister, Mrs. Frank Schepple, and a host of other relatives, friends and co-workers.

John Christian Weihe was born as the son of Henry Weihe and his wife, Magdalena, nee Jacobs, in Grand Meadow township, Clayton county, Iowa, on June 21, 1872. He was baptized by the Rev. Mr. Deichmann of St. Paul's Lutheran church, Postville, on Dec.9, 1877, and took the confirmation vows on Palm Sunday 1???.

He was united in marriage to Caroline Charlotte Meyer on March 29, 1898, to which union were born six children, those named above and one daughter, Florence, who preceded her father in death when but a babe.

He was ever a devoted and provident husband and father, whose concern for his loved ones included their material, spiritual and educational welfare.

He was a progressive farmer and participated in such organizational enterprises which would be helpful to himself and the community. For a number of years he was a member of the Farm Bureau and served a few years as a member of its board.

His community interests indicate how concerned he was about the progress of this locality so that it might always keep apace with the other progressive sections of the middle west. With other like-minded citizens of his community, groups were formed that founded and organized the Henderson Prairie Farmers' Telephone Company in 1903, and the Postville Farmers Cooperative Society in 1904. He served for over 25 years on the telephone board and for 16 years on the Farmers Society board. He was serving his 31st year as a member of the Grand Meadow township school board on which he was just completing his 25th year as secretary.

He served a few years as a director of the Farmers Cooperative creamery, and in 1915 was elected a director of the Citizens State Bank, serving in that capacity until 1936 when he was chosen its vice president. At the time of his passing a good part of his efforts were in behalf of the Big-Four Fair Assn., of which he had been serving as secretary since its incorporation on Aug 7, 1931. He felt this fair would serve as a vital factor in furthering community spirit and in strengthening the bonds of understanding between the town and the country.

Ever active in the church, he was serving as president of St. Paul's congregation at the time of his passing. He was a charter member of its Brotherhood and served as secretary since its organization in 1926.

He never served for honor or for glory, but because he wanted to do his part in the development of a community which he considered one of the garden spots of the nation. He passed away as he had lived - at work - on December 25, 1937, aged 65 years, six months and four days.

The funeral was one of the largest, if not the largest, ever held in this city, not only the main auditorium and parish hall being filled to capacity, but an overflow gathering were cared for in the basement of the church, and two loud speakers carried all of the service clearly and distinctly to the entire congregation.

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Submitter is not related.

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