John T. Fitzgerald 1858-1946

FAHERTY, FAVRE, ANDERSON, GUSTAT, HEATON

Posted By: M.J. Fitzgerald (email)
Date: 3/21/2005 at 20:06:44

Obituary from The Demoncrat, Ed Dec 29, 1943, Page 2, Column 1 under Lansing News:

John T. Fitzgerald Dies Unexpectedly Tuesday

Although he had been in failing health for some time, the death of John T. Fitzgerald came unexpectedly late Tuesday afternoon. His daughter, Mrs. George Anderson and family, had gone to La Crosse during the afternoon and Mrs. Floyd Ferris came to stay during theirrabsence, and before they returned he had passed away.

Mr. Fitzgerald was born near Rome, New York, March 1, 1858. He came to Allamakee Ccounty with his parents when a small boy, the famiy settling near Wexford. Here he attended school and assisted on the farm. He was married to Elizabeth Favre April 20, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald lived for a few years in Dubuque and upon their reutrn to the country again, purchased a farm in French Creek township where they remained until 1919 when they sold the land and moved to Lansing. He was the youngest of his family, two brothers and two sisters having preceded him in death.

Surviving are his wife and five daughters, Sister Wilhelmenia of Syracuse, NY, Mrs. Robert Faherty, Mrs. Joseph Gustat and Miss Cyrilla of Chicago and Mrs. George Anderson of Lansing. There are four grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Thursday morning from Immaculate Conception church, the Rev. Henry Scharphoff officiating. Burial was in Gethsemane cemetery. Another of the community's grand old men has passed on, one whom all knew and respected.

Obituary in the Lansing paper:

John T. Fitzgerald Passes

Death came to the above named gentleman late Tuesday afternoon of last week at his home on Center Street in Lansing, after an extended period of illness.

Deceased was born in the rural community of near Rome, NY, on March 1, 1858, a son of Timothy and Ellen Fitzgerald. He came to Wexford, Iowa, with his parents at the age of seven years and has lived in this vicinity ever since, retiring from farming and moving to Lansing in 1919.

On April 20th, 1898 at Prairie du Chien, Wis., he was married to Miss Elizabeth Favre, who with five daughters, Sister Wilhelmenia, Syracuse, NY, Mmes. Robert Faherty, J.L. Gustat, and Miss Cyrilla FItzgerald, Chicago, and Mrs. George Anderson of Lansing, mourn the loss of a loving husband and father.

Other survivors include four grandchildren, of whom he was very fond. Preceding him in death were two brothers, Edward and Theodore, and two sisters, Mrs. Webb Heaton and Mary.

Mr. Fitzgerald was a life long member of the Catholic Church and died fortified by its last and holy rites. He farmed until his retirement and was known as a good neighbor and friend.

The funeral services were held at Immaculate Conception Curch, Lansing, Thursday morning at 9:30 o'clock, Rev. Father H.D. Scharphoff offering the Mass of Requim and saying the prayers at the graveside in Gethsemane Cemetery. Casket bearers were Theo. Kerndt, Joe Walsh, Martin Meehan, Franz Nachtway of Lansing, and Ted Clanton and Louis Favre of Prairie du Chien, Wis. All of his daughters were home for the funeral services.