Palas, Frederick A.L.1873-1965

VOSS, PALAS, KURDELMEYER, DOERRING, KLINGE, SCHULTZ

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 11/18/2003 at 22:04:56

FREDERICK AUGUST LOUIS PALAS

Rites Are Held For Fred Palas

Frederick August Louis Palas, son of John and Caroline (nee Voss) Palas, was born July 18, 1873, in Farmersburg township, Clayton county. He was baptized into the Lutheran faith shortly after birth. On Palm Sunday, 1887, at the age of 14, he was confirmed in Zion Lutheran Church, Clayton Center. He received his schooling in the local country school.

Mr. Palas helped his father with farming until 1898, when he and his brother Henry, moved to farms west of Luana, now owned by Arthur Palas and Louis Lenth.

On March 20, 1900, Mr. Palas was united in marriage with Mathilda M. Kurdelmeyer, at her home. The couple set up housekeeping in his farm home. In 1912, Mr. and Mrs. Palas moved from the farm to Luana. Mr. Palas served as secretary and manager of the Farmers Cooperative Association for 26 years. He served as mayor of Luana, after helping to incorporate the village. He was a charter member of the Luana Volunteer Fire Department, and also served as one of the first directors of the Luana Savings Bank.

Mr. Palas was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and was secretary of the congregation for many years. He gave the baptismal font to the church at the time of its dedication in 1906, the font still being in use. He was one of five men who bought the original parsonage, and one of the five men on the building committee of the present parsonage, built and dedicated in 1924.

Mr. Palas underwent surgery in Postville Community Hospital, October 7. He passed away on October 17, 1965. He attained the advanced age of 92 years, two months and 29 days.

Preceding him in death were his parents, five brothers and two sisters.

Left to mourn his passing are his widow; one daughter, Beatrice (Mrs. Lorenz Doerring), Luana; one son, Bernholt W. Palas, Alexandria, Virginia, two sisters, Mrs. Ida Klinge, Delavan, Wisconsin; Mrs. Ella Schultz, San Leandro, California; two brothers, Ben Palas, Monona; Arthur J. Palas, Postville; 15 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. He was laid to rest in Luana Lutheran cemetery.

Funeral services were conducted from St. John Lutheran Church, Luana, on Wednesday morning, October 20, with Rev. Luther A. Meyer and Robert Miller officiating.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.