Wilke, Dorthea Maria Elizabeth (Blume) 1862 - 1939

WILKE, BLUME, BERSE, STORBECK, MEENAN, HABILL, KLINK, KURTH

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/23/2023 at 11:18:15

Clayton County Register, 23 Aug. 1939.

Last Tuesday morning, Mrs. Louis Wilke, another old settler of this community, died at the age of 77 years, 5 months and four days.

Dorothea Maria Elizabeth Wilke, nee Blume, was born March 11, 1862, in Germany. At eight years of age she came to America with her parents, locating in Garnavillo township, where she grew to womanhood. There, she attended the public school and received instruction in the Christian faith, being confirmed in St. Paul's church at Garnavillo, Iowa, on the 16th day of April, 1876.

In the year 1883, on the 30th day of March, she was united in marriage to Louis Wilke. Eight children were born to this union, all of which remain to mourn their mother's death. The children are: Arthur, at home; Cedonia Berse of Elkader; Lovelva Storbeck of Elkader; Walter, of Farmersburg; Elmer of Elkader; Ella Meenan of Elkader; Edna and Louis Wilke of Elkader.

After her marriage she resided with her husband eight years near Garnavillo and four years in Read township; then they bought a farm near Communia where they made their home for twenty-one years.

On Dec. 14, 1923, her husband was killed in an accident. The death of her husband grieved her greatly and she never recovered fully from that severe shock. Thinking she might be more at ease and comfortable, she moved to Elkader, where she resided for eight years, but her health would not permit her to live alone any longer, so she returned to the farm near Communia, to live with her two sons, Arthur and Louis and daughter Edna, with whom she remained until her death. They did all in their power to make the remaining years of their mother as happy and comfortable as possible.

Mrs. Wilke was a kind and loving wife and mother, and always enjoyed the company of her children. She devoted all of her time to her home and family and was interested in gardening and was a great lover of flowers.

She leaves to mourn her departure the aforementioned children; one sister, Mrs. Louis Habill, of Guttenberg; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild, Rose Lee Klink.

One sister, Mrs. Fred Kurth, of Farmersburg, preceded her in death about six weeks ago.

Funeral services were held at the late home at 1:15 last Friday afternoon, and at two o'clock in the Evangelical church, the Rev. P. Kitterer officiating. Burial was made in the East Side cemetery.

Casketbearers were: Chris Meyer, Walter Sadewasser, Dr. C. L. Crider, George Meenan, William Berns, and Henry Berns.

'Tis hard to break the tender cord
When love has bound the heart;
'Tis hard, so hard, to speak the words
"We must forever part."
Dearest loved one, we must lay thee
In the peaceful graves embrace,
But thy memory will be cherished
'Till we see thy heavenly face.'
A trembling grasp of loving hands,
A farewell sigh - a whisper low,
And they are gone to other lands;
But they ae ours where'er they go.