Ernst Wilhelm "William" Linke 1846-1928

LINKE, DURRE, SCHLEUSSNER, ZIEMER, ROST

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/13/2011 at 22:16:44

E. W. Linke, Early Settler, Dies at Daughter’s Home
Came to Estherville from Germany in 1882 – Was 82 Years Old
Ernst Wilhelm Linke, 82 years of age and for 46 years a resident of Estherville passed away Sunday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank Ziemer at Fairmont. Mr. Linke had been rapidly failing in health since the first of April. Death was due to a stroke of paralysis.

The deceased man was born on Sept. 23, 1846 in Brenkenoffslieff, Prussia, Germany. He was married on April 1, 1875 in Germany. In 1882 he immigrated to America, coming directly to Estherville where he was employed on the old B.C.R. and N. railway. Two years later he sent for his family who joined him here and have made their home here since then.

Mr. Linke is survived by his widow and five children. Mrs. Wm. Ziemer, Mrs. Frank Ziemer of Fairmont, Mrs. John Rost of Bovey, Minn., Miss Mary and Paul V. of Estherville. There are also 27 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren in America.

Funeral services were held this afternoon at two o’clock from the Germany Lutheran church with Rev. Otis Lange in charge. Burial was made in the East Side cemetery.

Mr. Linke was highly respected in Estherville. He had many friends among the older residents of the community, especially, and all knew him as a man of honor and integrity. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, October 3, 1928)

Obituary of Ernst Wilhelm Linke
Ernst Wilhelm Linke was born September 23, 1846, in Brenkenhoffsfleiss, Prussia, Germany. There he was confirmed in the Lutheran faith in 1861. His first marriage to Adelheid Durre was of short duration. From this marriage he has one daughter living in Posen, Germany. On April 1, 1875, he was again married to Miss Bertha Schleussner, who still lives with us and mourns his death. He emigrated to America in 1882 and settled in Estherville, Iowa. Two years later his family followed and have since made their residence in this city.

For the last few years Mr. Linke has been in failing health, and last Sunday, September 30, passed away peacefully as the result of a stroke which he suffered a few days before. He thus reached the ripe old age of 82 years and 7 days. He is survived by his aged widow, who has been his life’s companion for 53 years, and the following children, Mrs. William Ziemer of Browns Valley, Minnesota; Mrs. Frank Ziemer of Fairmont; Mrs. John Rost of Bovey, Minn.; Miss Mary and Paul Linke of this city. Two children preceded him in death, one an infant, and the other Frank Linke who died in 1906 at the age of 28 years. There also remain 27 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren in America, besides several in Germany. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, October 3, 1928)