STAPELA, Emma A. (Schlessmann, Blydenburgh) 1876-1943

STAPELA, SCHLESSMANN, BLYDENBURGH, FRAHM, MASON, CHESLEY, PROESSER

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 5/31/2011 at 02:47:22

[Waterloo Courier, Wednesday, August 25, 1943]

Mrs. Riner Stapela died at 6:20 a.m. Wednesday at her home, 819 Forest avenue. She was 66 years old.

As Emma Anne Schlessmann, she was born October 26, 1876, at Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Schlessmann.

On Jan. 1 1891, she was married to J. M.[James Morton] Blydenburgh in Brooklyn. After his death, she was married to Riner Stapela in Waverly, Iowa, on December 28, 1918.

Surviving are her husband; seven children by her first marriage, N. C. Blydenburgh, Santa Monica, California; M. E. Blydenburgh, Burlington, Iowa; Walter Blydenburgh, Richmond, California; Mrs. August Frahm, 1214 Leavitt Street; Hrs. A. I. Mason, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Mrs. Willis Chesley, Kansas City, Kansas, and Mrs. A. C. Proesser, Wichita, Kansas; 15 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Another son, Harold Blydenburgh, died four years ago.

The body was taken to the Kearns Garden Chapel.

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Note:
Burial was at Elmwood Cemetery, Waterloo. It appears Emma may have taken back the name of the father of her children as her gravestone on Find A Grave says "Emma Blydenburgh" and that memorial does not include the name "Stapela" as the obit was published in the Waterloo Courier.

Find a grave has her children as Lily (Frahm), Nettie (Prosser), Harold, Merritt, Mildred (died in Fla.), Walter, Nathan Clarke and Rhoda Margaret (Mason).

Her parents are listed as Richard Bernhard and Barbra Schlessmann not "J" as listed in the newspaper. - Find a Grave research credit to Thelma Dorsey.