Joseph Wiedemeier 1844-1910

WIEDEMEIER, THIELEKE

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 6/12/2010 at 21:09:37

The Carroll Times
Carroll, Iowa
30 Jun 1910
Page 1

Pioneer Carroll Merchant Dies

Joseph Wiedemeier, Sr., Answers Final Summons. The Community in Sorrow Over His Demise. Was a Good Man.

While it was known the past week that Joseph Wiedemeier, Sr., was hourly sinking at St. Anthony's hospital, hope against hope went out towards his rally, and his host of old friends and neighbors of forty years prayed that he might be spared to them a little longer. However, his body was in the grip of the awful disease of cancer and all efforts failed to save him. During the past year he had been suffering with an ailment of the stomach, and especially during the past few months had he suffered considerable. Several weeks ago he was taken worse and was removed to the hospital in the hopes that an operation might benefit and cure him. He was operated upon the 22nd of June and his stomach was found to be in such condition from cancer that no hopes were held out for his recovery. All that possibly could be done towards alleviating his suffering was done, but the last few days of his life were filled with bodily agony for him and the death angel came to relieve and transport his soul to a better home at 11 o'clock Sunday forenoon, June 26th. He was prepared to meet his Maker and died in the knowledge and under the peaceful and beneficial last holy sacrament of the Catholic church.

Joseph Wiedemeier was born in Entrupper Ni(?)heim, Westfallen, Germany, on September 23, 1844, being 66 years old at the time of his death. On the 11th of June, 1869, he was married to Miss Vronica (sic) Thieleke in Germany. One year later he and his young bride came to this country to make their home. They came direct to Carroll county and have lived here ever since. To this union were born ten children, of which seven survive with the mother to mourn the death of a kind and loving husband and father, as follows: Joseph and Tony, of Carroll, Mrs. Bredamann, of Chicago, Mrs. Pat Donolon and Mrs. Henry Johnson, of Carroll, Mrs. Gronemeyer, of Vail, and Miss Rose, who resides at home. Three children died in infancy.

In all of the many years that Joseph Wiedemeier had been a resident of this county he made a host of friends who sincerely mourn his demise. The first year and a half he spent here he worked for the Northwestern railroad. That was forty years ago, and his work at that time consisted in helping lay the track. He had often told how they cut slough grass to ballast with and at that time the track was being laid only to Maple River Junction. After a year and a half in town here he moved to a farm in Grant township, where he and his estimable wife brought up the family of children. Every son and daughter of this grand old man have proven themselves worthy of his bringing up and they are a credit to the community, and he died knowing that his efforts to bring up a good and honorable family had not been in vain. After farming for nearly twenty-five years the family moved to town and Mr. Wiedemeier went into the mercantile business. For several years he had a partner, but finally bought him out and his son, Joseph, Jr., took an interest, and the firm has been known as Wiedemeier & Son up to the present. Mr. Wiedemeier was a good public-spirited citizen and always had the interests of his town at heart. He took a deep interest in the welfare of all things municipal, and served three faithful terms on the city council. At the time of his death he was the president of the Democrat Publishing Co. of this place, and he was also interested in The Times. His business dealings were always found to be honest and on the square. As a neighbor he was an ideal man and his many old neighbors and friends who had known him for so many years are taking his untimely demise very much to heart, and with his family are mourning him for the kind-hearted and loving friend that he was to all. His life can be held up as an example of righteous living to everyone, for he was a man of true worth and those sterling qualities which go far towards making this world better, and in his death Carroll has lost a good business man, a good friend and a highly honored and respected citizen.

The funeral services were held from SS Peter and Paul's church Wednesday morning at 8 o'clock. Solemn Requiem Mass was chanted over the dead by Father Wessling. The Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Society, of which he was a member, attended the services in a body out of respect for a member whom they had loved and respected in life. The funeral was one of the largest in the history of the town and the many old friends and neighbors were present to pay their silent respect to the man they had learned to love and honor. The remains were laid to a peaceful rest in the consecrated lot in the Catholic cemetery. May he rest in peace.