Eldo Thiese 1893-1920

THIESE, RYBERG, KELLY

Posted By: Kelly D. Wernette (email)
Date: 2/6/2004 at 13:45:09

Eldo Thiese was born in Postville Iowa on August 13, 1893. He was the son of August W. Thiese and Dorothy Ryberg Thiese. The Thiese family lived in the Postville area from 1890-1901. His obituary appeared in the Alexandria Herald, Alexandria, S.D., on August 28, 1920.

Death Claims Eldo L. Thiese
GIVEN MILITARY BURIAL
Alexandria Legion Post in Charge of Impressive Funeral Service Monday Afternoon.

Eldo L. Thiese, eldest son of Mr. And Mrs. August Thiese of White Lake, formerly residents of Hanson county, died at the home of his parents Saturday morning, August 28, at 6:30 o’clock. Death was the result of typhoid-pneumonia which the deceased contracted four days before he passed away. He was taken sick Wednesday morning, and at first his condition was not regarded as serious, but he gradually grew worse until the end came at the time already mentioned.
Sunday night the body was brought to Alexandria, being accompanied by seven White Lake men of the American Legion of that place—Ralph Twamley, Montie Nelson, Roy Barns, Andy Morse, Jess Edwards, Peter Goers, and John Williams, these ex-soldiers acting as pall bearers until their arrival in this city, when the body was taken in charge by the Alexandria Post of the Legion. Until the hour for the funeral the remains lay in state at the home of H. H. Stuart.
Eldo Thiese served in the World War, going from Hanson county, and it was appropriate that he should be given a military funeral—the first real military service in Alexandria, with the full complement of ceremonial maneuvers. At two o’clock Monday afternoon, fifty-three members of the Alexandria Post, in their Khaki uniforms, marched to the Stuart home and formed an escort to accompany the body to the Methodist church where the funeral service was held. Jerde Kelley was in charge of the escort. L. A. Caldwell was the commander of the company and Post Commander George Gyitenhammar had the charge of the military service. The pall bearers were George Gullenhammar, Frank Vincent, W. R. Danforth, Bert Fox, Cheney Montgomery and George Hermann.
At the services in the church Rev Bessler of St. Mathews Lutheran church at Spencer was in charge, assisted by Rev. L. L. Layne of this city. Beautiful musical selections were given by a quartette composed of Mr. And Mrs. F. D. Peckhem, accompanied by Mrs. F. A. Bond and Ellsworth Peckham, accompanied by Mrs. O. D. Pitts. Following the church service the military escort accompanied the body to the Green Hill cemetery, where interment was made, and where the Post Commander was in charge of the burial rites. As the casket, draped with the American flag which Eldo served so faithfully in the war, was lowered, the salute was fired and taps were sounded. This ceremony was the most impressive and its significance will not be forgotten by those who witnessed the military service for the deceased.
Eldo Thiese was born at Postville, Iowa, August 13, 1893, and was twenty-seven years and 15 days old at the time of his death. When he was eight years old he came with his parents to Alexandria, South Dakota, and during the time he lived here he raised with his family on the P. F. Wickhem farm, just east of the C. Heineman place. When Eldo was fourteen years old he became a member of the German Lutheran church, and he was affiliated with that organization up to the time of his death.
On May 25, 1918, Eldo Thiese went into the service, going from Alexandria to Camp Lewis, Washington. In September he was at the front in the Argonne drive, during which he was severely gassed, and he was taken to a hospital, where he remained for three months and a half. On Easter Sunday, in April, 1919, he returned home honorably discharged and since that time he has been living near White Lake. Only last spring he and a friend at that place purchased a half section of land and they were farming when death claimed Eldo.
The deceased was popular during his boyhood and young manhood days spent in Alexandria, and his friends among the boys and men were numerous, all of them having a great respect and affection for Eldo Thiese. He was a steady, faithful worker and ambitious to make good on the farm he was interested in. He was courageous in the war, and his death may be laid indirectly to his service in France, as he was never been strong since his return more than a year ago, and his health has failed rapidly although he never complained, and never admitted that he was not perfectly well.
Besides the parents, Mr. And Mrs. August Thiese, four sisters, Mrs. Stella Kelly of Flint Michigan, Dorothy, Esther and Ruth, and two brothers, Wilford and Leonard, survive. The members of the immediate family accompanied the body here from White Lake, and Miss Iva Fitzpatrick, William Kludt and Mr. And Mrs. O. S. Helling were also present for the funeral.
The Herald joins the many friends of the family in extending sympathy and condolences in this time of great sorrow.

Card of Thanks

To the many friends in Alexandria and vicinity who aided us in so many ways in our time of great sorrow, we extend our heartfelt thanks and sincere appreciation. We are especially grateful to those who contributed the floral tributes; to the pastor for his consoling words; to the choir for the beautiful and appropriate music, and to the members of the American Legion, of which our loved one was a faithful member. We appreciated beyond expression the kindness shown us by Dr. H. H. Stuart and family, and will never forget the kind acts of our friends.

Mr. and Mrs. August Thiese and Family

*Photos of Eldo Thiese L-R:
Eldo just before his death
Eldo (on the right) at Fort Lewis, Washington
Training with the 361st division at Fort Lewis

Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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