Willhelm, Stephan (1846-1924)

WILHELM, WILLHELM, FITZ, MCCOY, RICHARD

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/29/2024 at 17:21:51

From Story City Herald November 13, 1924 (page 7)

Obituary

On the 30th of October we laid to rest one of Harrison township's oldest and most highly respected residents.

Stephan Wilhelm was born on December 14, 1846, in Ehrenstein, Wurtemberg, Germany. His father and mother died when he was but a small child. He attended the school of that country until 14 years of age.

On April 3, 1869, he left his home village for America arriving in New York May 10th. He worked on a farm in New York and New Jersey a short time, leaving there June 25th for Monroe, Ia.; at which place he worked until the following spring, coming to Story county, where he worked on a farm for one year, returning to Monroe where he was engaged in the nursery business for several years. In after years it was his great delight to work with trees and flowers.

On Dec. 5th, 1876 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Nettie Fitz at Monroe, Iowa. The following spring they moved to the farm in Boone county, where the deceased had purchased the year previous; at which place he resided until the time of his death, where after many years of patient suffering he passed peacefully away, Oct. 27th at 11:30 o'clock p.m. surrounded by his immediate family and friends.

The funeral was held Thursday morning at 9:30 o'clock at SS. Peter and Paul's church. Requiem High Mass was celebrated by Rev. D. A. Gorman, who used as his text for his sermon, "Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord," saying Mr. Wilhelm had truly died in the Lord, for his whole life was a preparation for death. He was a faithful and good Christian. God's commandments were the laws of his life. To pray and to attend divine service was his joy and comfort. His religion played an important part of his life.

The pall bearers were intimate friends of the deceased, as follows: Frank Uthe Sr., John Baldus, Peter Wirth, Frank Mesha, Matt Oswald and James Marron.

Mr. Wilhelm was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery beside his wife wo preceded him in death 35 years ago.

Those left to mourn the loss of a kind and loving father are one daughter and two sons, Mrs. John McCoy, Marcus Wilhelm of Boone and Louis Wilhelm of Verdigris, Neb.; also three step-children, D. J. Fitz of Boone, Miss Laura Fitz and Mrs. F. C. Richard of Des Moines. All were present at the funeral except on son, Louis of Nebraska.

Mr. Wilhelm is survived by one brother, Louis of Monroe, Iowa, who went with his son, George, were present at the time of the funeral.