John Dietrich Rothmeyer 1875-1944

KOESTER, ADAMI, ROTHMEYER, KOCH, SCHULER

Posted By: N. Wagner (email)
Date: 12/23/2007 at 12:29:52

Funeral service was held in St. Peter's Lutheran church Monday at 2 p.m., at Eldorado, Iowa, for John Rothmeyer. Rev. William A. Foege officiated. Burial was made in the family lot in the church cemetery.

Mr. Rothmeyer had been in ill health for quite a few years. About two years ago he recovered from a siege of illness. Several weeks ago he suffered an attack of influenza and he had seemingly recovered and was back on his job. A relapse confined him to his bed and Monday, June 12, he was taken to the hospital, at West Union, in an effort to speed his recovery. His condition was not considered serious. However, Wednesday noon he became suddenly worse and pneumonia developed. He died Friday, June 16, at 7 a.m., at the age of 68 years, six months, and seven days.

John Dietrich Rothmeyer was born Dec. 9, 1875, to Kathrine Rothmeyer, nee Koester, and Andrew Rothmeyer on a farm in Military township, near Festina.

On Dec. 19, 1875, he was baptized in the Christian church by Pastor Joseph Meyer. He attended public school in Military township and parochial school, at Eldorado, April 14, 1889, he was confirmed by Pastor G. Blessin.

Mr. Rothmeyer was united in marriage to Magdeline Adami on Thanksgiving day, Nov. 25, 1897. Five children were born to this union, two of whom preceded him in death, one at the age of 10 months and Edward, in 1938. Mrs. Rothmeyer also preceded her husband in death in 1917.

Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Rothmeyer lived on a farm two miles east of Eldorado, and a few years later they moved to a farm about one mile northeast of Eldorado. After this they purchased a farm half a mile south of the village, where they lived for quite a few yers. Besides farming, Mr. Rothmeyer was also employed as carpenter and cream hauler. In 1929 he moved to Eldorado, being employed as road superintendent of county roads in the northwest section of Fayette county. He held this position for the last 15 years.

When the new church was built at Eldorado, in 1911, Mr. Rothmeyer was elected as the first man on the building committee and is the first of that committee of four to die. From 1915 to 1930 he served as deacon of the congregation. In 1920 he was elected as a member of the parsonage building committee.

He leaves two daughters, Elsie (Mrs. John Koch), and Hilda, and one son, Raymond, all of Eldorado, and 12 grandchildren, one of whom is serving in the armed forces. Three brothers, Joseph, Merrill, Wis.; Henry and Frank, Festina, and one sister, Mrs. William Schuler, Festina, also survive.

Fayette County Union, June 1944