Hecker, Mary (Hupp) 1853-1926

HECKER, HUPP, MOODY, TRAYER, ENDERES, CULLINS, HANSON, RICE, WILLE

Posted By: S. Ferrall IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 10/6/2016 at 21:57:12

A Pioneer Mother Enters Eternal Rest
While not wholly unexpected, nevertheless, the announcement last Saturday noon that Mrs. R.F. Hecker had passed away, came somewhat as a shock to the people of this community. Her demise followed a protracted period of failing health, during the last five months of which she had been confined to the bed most of the time.

Mary Hupp was born in Lansing, Iowa, October 11, 1853, and died at her home in Postville, Iowa, March 13, 1926 aged 72 years, 5 months and 2 days.

On January 6, 1876 she was united in marriage at Lansing, Iowa, with Robert F. Hecker of Postville. They immediately came to this city to reside and there they have lived continuously since. To this union were born five children, John C., Robert M., Joseph, all of this city; Josephine M. of Excelsior, Minnesota, and Mary Theresa, who died in 1896.

The above is in brief the life story of a woman who for more than fifty years was a resident of Postville and was known and loved by us all. she was a faithful and dutiful wife, a kind and indulgent mother, true friend and neighbor. During her long residence here she witnessed the growth of Postville from a small hamlet to one of the most prosperous and progressive towns of its size in the state and took no little pride in its every forward step.

But her home was the place she loved best and she made it a place of happiness, solace and comfort for her husband and family and a place where her myriad friends loved to come and share its cordial hospitality. She was also a lover of nature and each summer her dooryard was transformed into a garden of flowers whose beauty and fragrance were enjoyed by all who passed that way.

Friendliness, helpfulness and sympathy she strewed with lavish hand along her pathway and "where each one for whom she had done some kindly act in life to place a blossom on her tomb she would sleep tonight beneath a wilderness of flowers."

Fraternally she was affiliated with Postville chapter No. 238 O.E.S. which in her death has lost another of its few remaining charter members. This order also attended the funeral in a body.

Besides her husband and the children previously mentioned, she is survived by one granddaughter, Barbara Moody of Excelsior, Minnesota; two sisters, Mrs.Rosa Trayer of Lansing, Iowa and Mrs. E. Enderes of Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Truly may it be said of Mrs. Hecker that in the fullness of years a good woman has been called to the reward which awaits the pure in heart in the paradise of God.

The funeral was held from St. Paul's Lutheran church in this city at two o'clock, on Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. R. Franklin Galloway of the Postville Community Presbyterian church. Interment in the Postville cemetery. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful.

Out of town relatives were in attendance at the funeral: Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Moody and daughter Barbara of Excelsior, Minnesota; Mrs. Emma Cullins, Nichols, Iowa; Mrs. Rosa Trayer, Lansing, Iowa; Mrs. Emma Hanson, Lansing, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Trayer, Mason City, Iowa; Mrs. George Rice, Dubuque; Tony Wille, Guttenberg.

~Postville Herald
Thursday, March 18, 1926