Schmidt, Pauline (Thoma) 1841 - 1924
SCHMIDT, THOMA, BECKER, KAHLER, FALKENHAINER, BLANCHAINE, SOLL, RABERSTEIN
Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 7/5/2017 at 10:22:39
Elkader Register, Thur., 17 July 1924.
Mrs. Wolfgang Schmidt, a pioneer settler of this community since 1859, passed away at her home here last Thursday forenoon, July 10th at 9:30 a.m., at the age of 82 years, 11 months and 11 days.
Pauline Thoma was born in Bavaria, Germany, July 29th, 1841. When she was eleven years old she came with her parents to this country. The family settled on a farm in Garnavillo Twp., Clayton County, Iowa.
On November 25th, 1859, she was married to Wolfgang Schmidt at Clayton Center, where the couple lived on a farm for some years. Later they moved to Elkader, and this has been the home ever since.
Eleven children were born to this union, of which three preceded their mother in death: Blasius, who died in infancy; Mrs. Mollie Becker, who passed away May 12th, 1913; and Mrs. Nora Kahler, on March 16th, 1918.
Mrs. Schmidt was a hard working woman; to raise a family of eleven children called for many a sacrifice on her part.
She always enjoyed good health, until a number of years ago, when she suffered a paralytic stroke. From this she rallied without any serious after effects. But when she suffered another stroke on Sept. 20th, 1922, together with the infirmities of advanced years, she realized more and more, that her life's journey was about to come to an end. On June 28th of this year she had another stroke. All those about her realized that her general condition and the infirmities of old age were against her. As during all the previous years she received the tenderest care from her children and relatives, and especially from her daughter Carrie, who was mother's constant companion all these years.
But at this time all efforts to prolong mother's life were in vain, her time had come. She passed away on Thursday morning, 9:30 o'clock, July 10th, 1924, at the good old age of 82 years, eleven months and eleven days.
The departure of a good mother is mourned by eight children: Fred Schmidt, Christian Schmidt and Mrs. B. F. Falkenhainer, of Elkader; Mrs. Henry Blanchaine, of La Porte, Iowa; Mrs. Fred H. Soll, of Elkader; William Schmidt, of Alaska; Carrie Schmidt, at home; and Wolfgang Schmidt, of Fullerton, Nebraska. Her husband had preceded her in death March 10th, 1899.
She also leaves 15 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. Margaret Raberstein, of Ottawa, Ill., other relatives and many old time friends and neighbors.
She will be missed in the years to come and at the annual Schmidt family reunion, which would have been on her next birthday July 29th, and in the Frauen-Verein, of which she was a member.
Funeral services were held last Saturday at the home and the Evangelical church, of which she was a member, and interment was made in the East Side cemetery. Rev. C. H. Franke officiated.
Clayton Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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