Schnepf, Ina W. (Purman) 1883 - 1911

SCHNEPF, PURMAN, PENHOLLOW

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:25

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 22 June 1911. Garber column.

Ina W. Purman was born near Osterdock, Iowa, April 28, 1883, and died June 14, 1911. She was the daughter of A. W. Purman and wife, whose maiden name was Marinda Penhallow. When Ina was a little girl her parents moved to Garber, formerly called East Elkport. It was here that her entire life was spent. It was in the old rock schoolhouse at Elkport, where she attended school, that she found the tiny flame of love and from that time to the time of her death she was true to that first love and on the 6th day of September, 1904, she gave her heart and hand to Henry C. Schnepf, who is now left with their only child, Kenneth, 5 years of age, to mourn the untimely death of a true wife and loving mother.

It was on November 15, 1910, she took to her bed. For a short time it seemed as though her fervent prayers and those of her friends and loved ones were to be answered, for she gained strength. But like the lilies, which of all flowers she loved best, and one of which she desired to have placed in her hand after death, she lived in resplendent beauty, only to fade and fade and waste and droop and, at last, after seven long, weary months of bed time, she fell asleep, to awake no more on this earth. Her end came peacefully. At times she would cry and give up hope and almost lose courage but words of cheer and hopefulness, spoken by those who loved her best, would give her strength once more. Then on Tuesday at 11 p.m. she was tired, oh ! so tired, and dropped asleep, her breath coming easy but shorter and shorter and her bark glided unusually smooth out toward the other shore. She slept for 15 hours and 45 minutes, until the last short gasp ended the journey and her loved ones, who stood around her bed, knew that she had passed through the pearly gates, and her prayers, that she might reach heaven some day, were answered. She was a faithful member of the Eastern Star Lodge, Minnehaha Chapter, No. 344, of the Elk Valley Rebekah Lodge, No. 500, of the L.C.A., of Elkport and Garber, and of the Alumni society for she had graduated from the Elkport High School with the class of'99.

The services were conducted Saturday at 1:30 by Rev. Hirsch and Rev. Hansel, burial at Mt. Harmony Cemetery, by Eastern Star assisted by the Rebekahs.

Besides her sorrowing husband and son Kenneth, she leaves to mourn her untimely death, one brother, Palmer Purman, station agent at Osterdock, Iowa, and many other relatives and friends. May she rest in peace.

The floral offerings from the Eastern Star Lodge, Colesburg, Iowa, Ladies Cemetery Association, Elk Valley Rebekah Lodge and E.H.S. Alumni were beautiful, as were also those from her many relatives and friends.

Those from elsewhere who attended the funeral were: Mr. Ansel Penhollow and Mrs. Bertha Thompson, of Millville; Mr. and Mrs. M. Smock, of Greeley; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Chittiden, of Fayette; Mrs. Reka Nehls, of Guttenberg; Mrs. John Cuthbert and daughter Winona, of Chicago, Ill.; the Misses Lucy and Amelia Roggman, of Garnavillo; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Peick, of Edgewood; Mrs. D. Zangmeister, Herman K_oernschild, Geo. Purman and Conrad Hafner, of Dubuque.