John Edwin Zitterich 1855-1915

ZITTERCH, LIEKMAN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/6/2010 at 12:44:53

John Edwin Zitterich was born in Germany, May 11, 1855. He departed this life at his home about ten miles south of Estherville, Iowa, March 20, 1915, at the age of fifty-nine years, ten months and nine days. He came to America in 1883, and in the same year was married to Gesina Margaret Katharina Liekman. They settled in Silver Lake, Palo Alto county, Iowa, where they lived until 1896 at which time they moved to Emmet county, where he resided until his death.

Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Zitterich, there being three girls and eight boys, all of whom are living. Four of these are still at home with their mother. Mr. Zitterich was a member of the German Lutheran church, having been reared in that faith from childhood. He leaves to mourn his departure a wife, the eleven children above mentioned, three sisters and one brother, besides a large circle of friends and neighbors. Two of his sisters live in Illinois, one of these being present with her husband at the funeral, and the other sister and brother live in Germany. The funeral service was held at the Christian church of this city, conducted by the minister, J. S. Coffin. The remains were laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, March 31, 1915)

Notice: To avoid any misunderstanding in the case of the late John E. Zitterich, who departed this life, Saturday, March, 20, and whose remains were laid to rest from the Christian church, the Rev. J. S. Coffin, officiating, I desire to inform the public that said Mr. J. E. Zitterich was NOT a member of the German Lutheran church, a statement to the contrary appearing in last week’s issue of the Enterprise, in the obituary. – Rev. W. C. Fleischer, Pastor German Lutheran church. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, April 7, 1915)

Who is Correct?
In writing the obituary for the late John Edwin Zitterich whose funeral service I conducted from the Christian church in this city March 24, I made the statement that he was a member of the German Lutheran church, having been reared in that faith from childhood. In the issue of the Democrat of April 14, Rev. W. C. Fleischer, pastor of the German Lutheran church, takes exception to this statement and informs the public that he was not a member of that church. I was told by Mrs. Zitterich herself that her husband was a member of the German Lutheran church and had been raised in that faith. Who is correct Rev. Fleischer or Mrs. Zitterich? If his membership had ever been severed from that church even his own wife and family did not know it. If the church withdrew the hand of fellowship from Mr. Zitterich secretly, it was not fair to him or his family and was without Divine authority. – J. S. Coffin, Christian Minister (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, April 21, 1915)