LEWIS DANIEL GARBER

GARBER, GITTINGER, BUNCH, RIDGWAY, DALE, RYAN, STEPHENS, PETERS

Posted By: Peggy Ann Peters Jones (email)
Date: 3/15/2002 at 19:37:02

From the Leon newspaper.

Lewis Daniel GARBER, son of Samuel A. and Nancy GARBER, was born in his father's pioneer home, four miles north of Leon, August 8, 1858, and died at his home in Center township, Dec. 29, 1936, being at the time of his death 78 years, 4 months and 21 days, having been a resident of Center township all his life. His father and mother came to Iowa when children, he from Pennsylvania and she from Illinois.

He was united in marriage on April 30, 1882, to Mary A. GITTINGER. To this union eight children were born, six of whom are left to mourn his passing. They are Bessie BUNCH, Georgia RIDGWAY, and Josephine DALE, all of Leon, Myra RYAN of Derby, Lucie Stephens and Clara Peters of Pine bluffs, Wyoming. His wife, and infant daughter and a son Samuel R., having preceded him in death.

The sudden death of his wife, and son in a comparatively short time was a shock from which he never recovered and no one can tell of the suffering and disappointment he experienced at his loss.

He also leaves twenty-five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He has three brothers and three sister living. Their combined ages the day of his death being 508 years, 5 months and 1 day, his death being the only death among his brothers and sisters in seventy-two years.

In his younger days he was a man of untiring energy and whether it was religion, farming, or the good of the community, he was promoting, his judgment and influence was recognized by all. He became a member of the Brethren church in February 1876, and he was active in the Sunday school and church work. He was superintendent of the Sunday school at Franklin and later at Crown chapel for years. He bought the farm where he lived when it was unfenced prairie, improved it and made it his home from the time of his marriage until his death.

These lines penned by one who has grasped his proffered hand in childhood and clung to it at the brink of the Silent River can only feebly express our love and our loss at his passing.

Funeral sercices were held at the Stewart Funeral Home at two o'clock Friday afternoon, with Rev. S. C. Henderson in charge. Interment was in the Leon cemetery.

The pallbearers were six of his grandsons: Burwell RYAN, Chester RYAN, Lewis RYAN, Lewis BUNCH, James BUNCH and Ellsworth DALE.

Submitted by Peggy Ann Peters Jones