Oelke, Elizabeth (Willruth) 1816 - 1907

OELKE, WILLRUTH, SPLIES

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 5/16/2019 at 12:12:44

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 21 Nov. 1907. Luana column.

Elizabeth Oelke, nee Willruth, deceased, was born Oct. 5, 1816, in _a_renzien, Hanover, Germany. She was married in Germany to Wm. Oelke, who preceded her in death 19 years ago. To this union were born four children, two inn Germany, William and Henry, who now reside in Farmersburg, Ia., and two in America, Bertha Splies, of Luana, and August, of Audubon, Ia.

In 1851 they emigrated to America, direct to Clayton county and lived in the vicinity of Garnavillo until the death of her husband, since which time she has resided in the different homes of her children. She was a capable and industrious woman, and even in her last days her hands were unwilling to rest.. She had been ailing at times for several years with convulsions which finally resulted in peaceful death Nov. 13, 1907.

Among those left to mourn her loss are four children, twenty-one grandchildren, and twenty-three great-grandchildren, three daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and numerous friends. She lived to the ripe age of 91 years, 1 month and 8 days.

(Note: This obit was hard to read. See her gravestone photo on the IGPP for further info.)