August Staak 1844-1909

STAAK, COLLISON

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 6/19/2010 at 10:37:34

Carroll Sentinel
Carroll, Iowa
13 Jul 1909
Page 1

An Old Soldier

Answered Last Call

August Staak Died at His Home Last Evening About 7:30 From Heart Trouble.

Death, like a gentle sleep, weighs down the eye lids and the world and its busy tasks fades into sweet oblivion. Such was the passing of August Staak who was with us yesterday hale and hearty but in the twinkle of an eye, life and all its visions faded away and the grim old warrior and patriot had paid nature's greatest debt and for him the last roll had been called, lights extinguished and all were at rest.

Last evening about 8:30 the news that August Staak was dead, was whispered from lip to lip through our city. The news came to all as a sad surprise, for many of us had seen him during the day busy at work, looking and feeling unusually well. During the day he visited the hospital a couple of times in regard to some insurance he was writing. He had also written a couple of other policies during the day. He returned to his home from the hospital about 5:30 and waited until his wife prepared supper. He ate a hearty meal and after sitting in the dining room for some little time after supper he remarked to Mrs. Staak that he would go to his office, which is on the same lot with the house only just back of it facing on the alley, and write that hospital insurance policy. This was the last seen of him while living. In about half an hour Mrs. Staak went out into the yard and saw her husband sitting in a chair with his head bowed down as if asleep. She attended to her work in the yard and again passed by him. This time she noticed that he was looking unusually pale and went up to him and said "papa, papa" but no answer came from the lips that were sealed in death. She became alarmed and called Frank Schmich who summoned a doctor. When the doctor arrived he pronounced him dead as a result of heart failure which also was the verdict of the coroner's jury. When a reporter of the Sentinel arrived a few moments later, he saw Mr. Staak seated in an arm chair with his hands resting peacefully in his lap, the head slightly bowed as if in sleep. His clothes were in perfect order as if death came without warning and without a struggle.

He died in the harness, working to the end. On going to the office he began the work of writing a $5000 policy for the hospital and had it all completed but the date and his signature. His desk was on the north side of the room. He no doubt became dizzy at that time and got up from his desk and went and sat in a chair which was between the doors where he would be in the draft. Thus he was seated when found by his faithful and loving wife.

August Staak was born in Buelkow, Mecklenburg, Germany, April 4, 1844. He came to America in 1861. He first located at Northfield, Ill., where he lived for four and a half months when he enlisted Oct. 23, 1861 in Company G, fifty-seventh Illinois infantry. He was attached to the second division of the sixteenth army corps. He participated in the battles Shilo, siege of Corinth, Reaco and many others and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. He was honorably discharged July 7, 1865 at Louisville, Ky. He was united in marriage December 28, 1867 to Miss Mary C. Collison of LaSalle county, Ill. There were born to this union eleven children, six of whom are living. They are: W. H. Staak, Carroll; Mrs. J. F. Yegge, Boone; Mrs. Sarah Kehrer, Ft. Jones, Calif.; Frank J., Marseilles, Ill.; John, Sioux Rapids, and Joseph, Marseilles, Ill. The boys will all be at the funeral, it being impossible for the girls to be present. The funeral will be held Thursday morning at the St. Joseph church in charge of the K.C.'s of which he was a faithful member and was one of the trustees of the local lodge at the time of his death.

In 1875 he and his family located in this city and have been residents here ever since. For many years Mr. Staak was engaged in the insurance and real estate business and has been successful in the business. He was a member of the Grand Army since 1867 and has held all the offices in the gifts of that organization.

Mr. Staak's death is deeply mourned by a large circle of friends and many relatives. His wife, who is now 66 years old, is heart broken at her irreparable loss. She has parted with a faithful and loving husband and the community with a good citizen and patriot.