Anna Maria Bruch, 1901

BRUCH, FLESKES, WILLINBRINK, MUEHL

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 8/1/2004 at 14:51:57

I translated the following obituary from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. The obituary was originally published on Friday, 20 September 1901. I have not changed the name or place spellings, and have added some information in brackets and notes at the end. It reads as follows:

Anna Maria Bruch

Anna Maria Bruch (maiden name Mühl) was born on 11 March 1811 in Helferskirchen, District of Mitselters, Duchy of Nassau, Germany. There, on 2 February 1836, she married her husband, Mr. Sebastian Bruch. The young couple farmed there in their home village until 1844, when they immigrated to the United States of North America and settled in Richland County, Ohio. They lived there until the fall of 1853, and then moved to New Vienna, Dubuque County, Iowa, where they again farmed until 1870. They then moved to Carroll in order to farm here. In spring of 1886, the already eldery couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. On 15 October 1887, her husband preceded her in death at the age of 83. Since then, she lived with her second-oldest daughter, Mrs. Anna Maria Fleskes in Mt. Carmel, until 11 September when she passed away at the age of 90 years and 4 months. The marriage produced nine children, namely six sons and three daughters. Those still living are: Katharina Willinbrink, in Stearns County, Minnesota; John, in Portland, Oregon; Anna Maria Fleskes, in Mt. Carmel; Elisabeth Caspar, in Omaha, Nebraska; Anton, in Oakdale, Nebraska; and Sebastian, in Mt. Carmel. Three children predecease her, namely: a 19-year-old son, and two small children. The deceased was allotted an old age, one that not many have reached.

NOTES: Helferskirchen is a small village just northeast of Koblenz, in the western part of Germany. Today, it is administered as part of the town of Wirges