Catherine Staak 1851-1938

STAAK, WOLFE, COLLISON, GARRY

Posted By: Georgea Clinton (email)
Date: 4/8/2011 at 10:34:06

August 25, 1938 - Carroll Times - Mrs. Frank Staak, 87, a pioneer resident of Carroll, died at the St. Anthony Hospital at 5:45 Wednesday evening, her death being caused by frailties attendant to her advanced age.

Mrs Staak had been in failing health since last fall. On December 20th she entered the St Anthony Hospital, where she had been cared for until her death. She had been bedridden for only slightly more than a week. The body is at the Gregory Funeral Home, where it will rest until the time of the services. Rites will be held at St Joseph Church at 9 o'clock Saturday morning, with the Rev Father George Schumacher reading the requiem mass. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Members of the Married Ladies Sodality of St Joseph's church and the christian Mothers Society of Ss. Peter and Paul's church will meet at the Gregory Funeral Home at 8 o'clock Friday evening to recite the rosary for Mrs. Staak.

Mrs. Staak was well known in Carroll and vicinity, where she had lived for 63 years. She was born Catherine Wolfe, daughter of Maurice and Ellen Carey Wolfe, in Illinois June 1, 1851. Her mother died when she was a small girl and her father later took the family from LaSalle county, Illinois, where he had farmed to Clinton county, IA to continue his agricultural pursuits. The family settled in Clinton county in 1860 and Mrs. Staak spent her girlhood in Illinois and Clinton county.

In 1978 she came to Carroll returning a short time later to eastern Iowa, and then coming back in 1875 to Carroll County, where she has lived ever since. Mrs. Staak and her sister, the late F.A. Colllson, had the first millinery store in Carroll. It was located on North Adams Street near the present site of Etrohm's Store.

She married Frank Staak in Carroll, being one of the first brides of St. Joseph's parish. Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Staak established their home on a farm four and one half miles west of Carroll on the present Highway No. 30. After a few years residence there, they came to Carroll, where Mrs. Staak had since lived in her home at 205 South East Street. She made her home there until she entered the hospital last December. Mr. Staak passed away April 29, 1912.

Mr. and Mrs. Staak were the parents of one son who died in infancy. Mrs. Carl Erschen and Mrs. T.A. Mulvihill of Milwaukee, Wis., formerly Theodora and Louise Garry, who are distant cousins of Mrs. Staak, were reared by her. They have been here to visit her in her illness and Mrs. Erschen is still here, Mrs. Mulvihill having returned home a few days ago.

Mrs. Staak was the last survivor of a family of twelve children. Her only surviving sister-in-law is Mrs. T.C. Wolfe of Carroll.

Her brothers and sisters included the late T.C. Wolfe and Mrs. F.A. Collison of Carroll. Another sister, Miss Bridget Wolfe, who made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Staak, died many years ago. Mrs. Staak was a member of St. Joseph's Church and the Married Ladies Sodality of the parish. She also belonged to the Christian Mothers Society and the Missionary Society of SS. Peter and Paul's Church.