Samuel Frederick Blaess (1880-1959)

BLAESS, LEININGER, ANDERSON, EHMAN, ZENOR

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/21/2011 at 22:12:38

Samuel Frederick Blaess was born on June 13, 1880, in Dodge Township, Boone County, the oldest son of Fred Blaess and Mary nee' Leininger. On July 4, 1880, he was baptized by Pastor Guenther. He attended the parish school at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Harrison Township and was confirmed there on March 14, 1894, by Pastor Brandes.

On June 28, 1905, he was married to Dena Amelia Anderson at Pelican Rapids, Minn. Five children were born to this union, four sons and one daughter.

During most of his life he was an employee of the Chicago Northwestern Railroad, for several years in Des Moines, and then for many years in the car department at Boone, both as foreman and then as inspector, until his retirement in the year 1945.

A member of Trinity congregation in Boone for many years, he also contributed his services in various ways, including a term of service on the church board. He was active in the early beginnings of Trinity Lutheran Church in Des Moines.

During the years of his retirement he still enjoyed comparatively good health until Thursday morning, October 8, when with little previous indication, he died quite suddenly at the age of 79 years, 3 months and 25 days.

He is survived by his wife and five children, one daughter, Mrs. Fred J. (Pearl) Ehman of Boone; four sons, Herbert of Jefferson, Archie of Newport, R.I., and Ervin and Robert, both of Boone; one brother, Louis Blaess of Boone, and one sister, Mrs. Clara Zenor of Los Angeles; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at Trinity Lutheran Church, Monday, October 12, 1959. The Rev. Martin L. Seitz, pastor of the church spoke words of comfort based on Peter 1, 24-25, "The One Thing Enduring." The worship hymns were led by Mrs. Fred Porter and Mrs. Richard Hora, "I'm But a Stranger Here" and "Abide With Me."

Pallbearers were George Blaess, Raymond Lutjen, Kenneth Lutjen, Harold Moeller, Darrell Tingwald and Donald Ahrens. Those in charge of flowers were Mrs. Clara Ahrens, Mrs. Hilda Ihnen and Mrs. Theo H. Grabau.

Burial took place in Linwood Park Cemetery.

Source: Boone News Republican