Phelan, Steven died 1915

PHELAN

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:24

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 6 Jan. 1916. Elkport and Vicinity column.

The death of young Steve Phelan, our schoolmate and companion, which occurred on the Eve of Christmas, fills our hearts with sorrow and our entire community sympathizes with his parents for the loss of their son. Had young Steven lived till the 9th of February, 1916, he would have been 24 years old. He was born and raised in Volga township, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Pat Phelan, in whose hearts and home he leaves a vacancy.

His young life was just blossoming into the prime of manhood when his health began to fail. The organs of his heart became weakened, which was the ultimate cause of his death. Every means of medical help was resorted to by his parents and brothers, which proved of no avail. He was possessed of a gentle and pleasing disposition. He retained the kindness of his early boyhood in all its child-like simplicity. He would fulfill an errand to the letter; in fact, the sunshine of all goodness radiated from his young heart. But our earthly ties are broken and faint are these lines in expressing our sorrow as we mingled with the procession which bore him to the church and the cemetery on that cold December morn, for to us all nature seemed veiled in mourning for the sad occasion. Yet alas ! even through the rifts of our depression a ray of hope rises along the horizon of our sorrow which seems to bear the message that could we find in the Silent River that missing link which connects his mortal life with his eternal home, we would behold him in full possession of every promise of our Redeemer. But that is beyond the pale of our being. Yet we think we understand the meaning of the phrase "There is no death", for in our cherished memory he is living still.

He was laid to rest in St. Michael's cemetery at Elkport, Rev. Father Minogue officiating.

May his soul rest in peace.