Zurbriggen, Marguerite (Wirz) 1891-1977

ZURBRIGGEN, WIRZ, BIGLER, KNIGHT, WEIBLE

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 8/19/2017 at 15:26:46

Marguerite Zurbriggen, 86, died Wednesday, June 15, at the Postville Community Hospital. Funeral services were held Friday, June 17, at 1:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Elgin, with interment in the Elgin Cemetery.

She was born on Jan. 11, 1891, in Bern, Switzerland, the daughter of Gottlieb and Maria (Bigler) Wirz. Mrs. Zurbriggen attended school and worked as a secretary in Bern. At age 17, she went to London, England, and was employed as a private French tutor and governess. She and Mattia Zurbriggen were married on April 9, 1910, in the Salvation Army Church in London.

In 1913, Mrs. Zurbriggen and her husband came to the United States and farmed in the Clermont-Elgin area until 1925. The operated a bakery in Elgin from 1926-1941 and one in Sumner from 1941 until their retirement. The Zurbrigens continued to live in Sumner until 1975* when they moved to the Good Samaritan Home in Postville.

Survivors include her husband, Mattia; two sons, Paul of Elgin and Gordon of Darien, Conn.; a daughter, Mrs. Elaine Knight of Postville; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by 11 brothers and sisters and one daughter, Eda Weible of Chicago.

~Sumner Gazette, Thursday, June 23, 1977

*Mr. Zurbriggen was a resident of the Good Samaritan Home in Postville before 1975. A 1973 biography in the Postville Herald featured him as "Resident of the Month" stating that Mrs. Zurbriggen was also living in Postville with their daughter Mrs. Knight. His 1978 obit stated he'd lived at the Home for 7 years.