Mrs. Louis Riedesel 1842-1909

RIEDESEL, PETER

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 7/22/2016 at 17:16:33

2 July 1909 - The Lowden News

Mrs. Louis Riedesel died at her home, 4 miles southeast of Lowden on Tuesday morning, June 30th, at about two o'clock after a lingering illness at the age of sixty-seven years, three months and a few days.

Mrs. Riedesel was born at Dietenshausen, Westphalia, Germany, in 1842. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Johann Philip Peter. She was married to Louis Riedesel in 1866, and the following year they came to America and settled in this vicinity. Fourteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Riedesel of whom three preceded their mother to the better world. There survive to mourn Mother Riedesel's demise her sorrowing husband, eleven children, twenty-nine grandchildren and one brother, and many other relatives and a host of friends.

Deceased has suffered a great deal during the past couple of years from rheumatism and heart complications. Physicians and science and good care brought temporary relief, but no cure could be effected, the disease hung on tenaciously oftimes taking hold with great violence, thus weakening her body gradually and finally conquered by placing her into the Hands of Death. During the long weeks of sickness and pain Mrs. Riedesel manifested great fortitude, such as is seldom seen in battling disease, showing that she had been of great strength before disease emaciated her body.

However it is fitting here to note that she was powerfully aided in withstanding sickness by the very best of care being given her by the immediate members of her family, who untiringly ministered to her every want, even during such dark days, when other members of the family were sick at the same time and in the house, which has been several times the case. No one could receive better care in sickness as did Mrs. Riedesel. Certainly the good woman was deserving of it, as she herself, before her sickness, ministered with kindness to the wants of her family and helped with all her power, where help ever was needed around her.

The funeral was held yesterday afternoon with services in the German Reformed church at Wheatland and interment in the High German cemetery at Wheatland. Rev. Gatermann conducted the services. There was a very large attendance at the funeral. The pall bearers were Wm. Boettger, H. B. Edler, H. K. Reckemeyer, George Homrighausen, Louis Strackbein and Hans Petersen.

Among the many beautiful floral tributes was one brought from here by the Lowden Krieger Verein, of which society Mr. Riedesel is a member. This sweet token of respect was accompanied by the following verse:
"Das Haus ist leer
Sie ist nicht mehr
I'm Kreise ihrer Lieben,
Unerbittlich hat der Tod
Sie von da gescheden
es war so schwer
Doch half's due Herr.
Wier haben uns ergeben
Unverrueckt dir tren zue sein
Bis zum ew'gen leben."