HEIT, William 1851-1934

HEIT, PAPENHEIM, LAURES

Posted By: Duane Heit (email)
Date: 6/21/2006 at 08:51:57

Taken from New Hampton Newspaper

Death came quietly and peacefully to William Heit at 11:29 a.m. Friday, January 26, 1934, in the St. Joseph’s hospital, of this city. Mr. Heit was 82 years and 10 days old. All these years Mr. Heit enjoyed very good health. Friday he became ill of a bad cold. Saturday noon he had the misfortune of falling down a stairway in his home, he suffered a gash in the arm and was otherwise bruised. His condition became worse and on Sunday he was taken to the St. Joseph’s hospital where his illness developed in to pneumonia. Every care and kindness was extended to him, but in his advanced years he was unable to rally and he passed away to join those who had one before to that Great Beyond.

William Heit was born January 16, 1852, in Baden, Germany. He was the only child of Martin and Odelia Heit. With his parents he came to America in 1854 and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1856 they came to Dyersville, Iowa, where they resided until 1870, then coming to a farm in Chickasaw County.

He was united in marriage January 29, 1877, at North Washington to Miss Margaret Papenheim. For forty-five years he resided on the farm in this county, and in 1915 retired to a home in this city.

To this happy union, ten children were born, eight of whom survive. A son, Martin, died at the age of 14 years, and a daughter, Dorothy, died at 1 year of age. Besides his wife and eight children he is also survived by eleven grandchildren. Surviving children are: Miss Matilda Heit of Denver, Colorado, John of Charles City, William and Frank at home, Anthony, Joseph, and Martin of New Hampton, and Alphonse of Elmhurst Illinois.

The death of Mr. Heit has brought a deep sense of loss and genuine sorrow to his family and to multitudes of people in the community where he lived. Mr. Heit was a most ardent Catholic. Mr. Heit was a kind, friendly man, an excellent neighbor, a most fair and law abiding citizen, a man who had the highest of ideals of conduct and life, faith and integrity, a devoted husband and a father who sacrificed much for those dear to him. In his almost daily visits about town he made a cheerful contact with both young and old. In the passing of Mr. Heit we have lost a man who was the soul of honor, ever kind, accommodating, and true to humanity.

Final rites were held at St. Mary’s Church at 10 a.m. Sunday, Reverend B. H. Forkenbrock, pastor, officiated. Burial was made in the parish cemetery. Pallbearers were Joseph Laures, New Hampton, and five grandsons, Gailus and Virgil Heit of Charles City, Jerome, Raymond and Bernard Heit, of New Hampton.

The deceased will be greatly missed by all his friends who knew and respected him through the years, and they all extend deep sympathy to the family and other relatives in their bereavement.