Mack, Grace E 1878-1920

MACK, VANWAGENEN

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 5/20/2016 at 13:17:16

Storm Lake Pilot Tribune - Apr 30, 1920 - After 16 weeks illness in the Methodist hospital at Des Moines, Miss Grace E Mack suddenly became worse on Monday and in a few hours she passed away with her sister, Mrs Nellie VanWagenen and her brother, Frank W Mack, at her side.

Other members of the family had been summoned Monday morning and were enroute to Des Moines but did not reach her in time. Some three weeks ago her condition was considered desperate but she had improved to such an extent that hope had been extended to members of the family and her death was a great shock, not only to the family but to the people of the city which had been her lifelong home.

Deceased was the second child of the late Mr and Mrs Edgar E Mack and with her parents moved to Storm Lake when she was three weeks old. She was a graduate of the Storm Lake high school in the year 1895, attending Buena Vista college the following year. She attended Evanston University the fall of 1897 and afterwards took extended work in music, graduating under Professor Emil Enna of Des Moines and teaching music several years here in Storm Lake and was organist in the Presbyterian church for 7 years.

During the last few years of her mothers life she took charge of the home and following the death of her mother in 1906 until August 1918, she remained as housekeeper and companion for her father, who in 1906 was stricken by a paralytic stroke and while partially, never fully recovered, he having died in 1918 and Grace was ever a part of his life taking care of his home, his pleasure and his comforts, cheerfully giving to her father and her brother and sisters throughout life and especially their little ones.

Miss Mack leaves surviving her sisters: Mrs Nellie VanWagenen and Miss Beatrice J Mack; and her brother Guy E Mack, all of Storm Lake; and her brothers Frank W Mack of Manson, Iowa; and Burt M Mack of Iowa Falls, Iowa.

She herself did not believe that death was imminent and she was continually planning for the day when she would be restored to health and activity. The remains were brought to this city on Tuesday afternoon and funeral services are being held in the Lakeside church on Thursday afternoon. Interment is being made in the Storm Lake cemetery.