MATTIA ZURBRIGGEN

SCRANZ, ZURBRIGGEN, WIRTZ, WEIBEL, KNIGHT

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 3/30/2003 at 09:40:40

MATTIA ZURBRIGGEN

Funeral services for Mattia Zurbriggen, who died October 16 at Postville Good Samaritan Center, were held Thursday, Oct. 19 at First Baptist Church, Elgin. The Rev. Ben Hulsing and the Rev. Ralph Changler officiated.

Mattia Zurbriggen, son of Orsola Scranz, and Mattia Zurbriggen, was born in Macugnaga, Italy, an Apline village, August 24, 1889. He left home at the age of eleven and never saw his parents again.

He was employed in various restaurants and hotels in Switzerland and England during his early years where he learned the baker's trade. In London, England, he met Marguerite Wirtz and April 9, 1910, they were united in marriage in the Church of the Salvation Army.

In 1913, they came to America residing in the Elgin-Clermont-Wadena area where they farmed until 1925. They operated a bakery in Elgin from 1926 until 1941 and in Sumner from 1941 until retirement.

Mattia lived the last seven years in the Good Samaritan Home, Postville.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Sumner where he served as deacon, taught Sunday School and led the choir for many years. He loved music and will be remembered as director of Elgin's Little German Band. Mattia was a member of the Sumner Rotary Club.

He spoke five languages fluently and loved using this ability to communicate with people that he met while traveling. He was civic minded and served as mayor of Sunmer for several terms.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marguerite and a daughter, Eda Weibel of Chicago.

Surviving are: a daughter, Elaine Knight, Postville, two sons: Gordon of Cedar Falls and Paul of Elgin; 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Interment was at Elgin Cemetery. Muehlethaler-Wright Funeral Home was charge of arrangements.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.