Schlake, Henry Joseph 1857-1947

SCHLAKE, HAMANN, WILKER, SCHMIDT, BACKHAUS, SCHROEDER, THOMA

Posted By: Nathan Lingwall (email)
Date: 6/26/2004 at 12:48:56

Pioneer Resident Dies on Thursday Morning.

Funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon at St. Peter's Lutheran church for Henry Schlake, 89, who died at the Herman Hamann home here Thursday morning. The Rev. K. Landgrebe conducted the service. One of the oldest residents of this community, Mr. Schlake was born on a farm in Garnavillo Township June 22, 1857. His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth Schlake who came to Clayton County from Germany in 1845. One of a family of four, he lived on the farm south of town with his parents, eventually taking over the farm and operating it himself. He was married in 1882 to Elizabeth Wilker a daughter of Clamer and Anna Wilker, two other pioneers of Clayton County. They became the parents of eleven children. In 1910, he moved to Garnavillo and lived there until his death. His wife died in 1925 and for the last three years, he had been living with his daughter, Mrs. Herman Hamann. He was one of the organizers of the Garnavillo Savings Bank, and was a director for 39 years. He served on the Board of Education and was one of the active members of the Horsethief Detective Association. He was an officer in the Farmers Mutual Insurance association, the Garnavillo cemetery association and belonged to the now extinct Garnavillo Turnverein. He served as a trustee of Garnavillo Township at one time and was also a member of the Garnavillo Creamery directors. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Louisa Schmidt of Chicago; ten children, LeRoy of Waukon, Victor of Waterville, Mrs. Ida Backhaus of Clear Lake, Mrs. Anna Schroeder of Guttenberg, Mrs. Alma Hamann of Dubuque, Herman of Farmersburg township, Albert, John, Mrs. Ruth Hamann and Mrs. Nettie Thoma of Garnavillo. He had twenty-six grandchildren and twenty-seven great grandchildren.

(died on April 10, 1947, buried on April 13, 1947 in the Garnavillo Cemetery.)

Relatives from out-of-town who attended the funeral of Henry Schlake on Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Casanova and Marie and John Casanova of Cassville, Wis., Mr. and Mrs. John Heller, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Thompson, Mrs. Delores Loso and Mrs. Edmund Hayes of Dubuque, Mr. and Mrs. T. Prouty of Marquette, Herman and Alvin Guel of Luana, Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Schlake of Cedar Rapids, Ivanelle Schlake of La Crosse, Wis., Eldean Schlake of Decorah and Margaret Allyn of Mason City.