BIRKHOLZ, William 1847-1935
BIRKHOLZ, GJERKE, GEHRKE, VOELKER, MARQUARDT, JOHNSON, HARTZ, BLUMENSTIEL
Posted By: Betty Silvia (email)
Date: 6/8/2017 at 19:16:18
William Birkholz was born in Zielsdorf in the province of Brandenburg, Germany on the 17th day of March 1847. In his infancy he was baptized in the name of the true God, he attended the Christian day school and when he had attained the proper age he was confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He lived with his parents until he was 16 years of age. He spent three years in Ruhrbeck learning the trade of a blacksmith and then worked at his trade in several places until he immigrated to America in 1871.
After a short stay in Brandon, Wisconsin he went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and in the late fall of 1871 he was united in marriage with Sophia Dorethea Gjerke in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Six children have issued from this marriage, three of who have preceded their father in death. In 1872 the Birkholzes came to Iowa and settled on a farm in St. Charles township near Oakwood. After living 25 years on this farm Mrs. Birkholz passed to her reward in 1897 and Mr. Birkholz stayed on with his children.
In 1903 he came to live in Charles City where his daughter, Lydia, Mrs. Robert Voelker, kept house for him until she died. In 1925, after he had been a widower for 28 years, he married Mrs. Amelia Marquardt who survived him who has been a real comfort to him in his old age. In 1926 he underwent a surgical operation and since that time he was more or less on the sick list.
Mr. Birkholz has been a member of St. John’s Lutheran congregation since 1871. He was most faithful in his church affiliation and always had the welfare of the congregation at heart. His congregation recognized his faithfulness and in 1890 elected him to her board of trustees, which office he has held to his dying day. When he felt that he could no longer serve actively, the congregation elected him an honorary member of her board so that he has been in office for a term of 45 years. On the board of trustees he represented the older generation of the membership and defended their ideals and aspirations but at the same time he had an understanding for the needs of the younger generation and an open mind for their legitimate claims.
During his last years he was often sick and several times at the point of death. But he always recovered due in no little measure to the constant and faithful attention of his wife and daughters. His last sickness was of short duration. When he realized that he end was drawing nigh he received the Lord’s Supper together with his wife and on last Thursday evening (June 20, 1935) and at 8:00 o’clock God called his tired servant home at the age of 88 years, 3 months and 3 days.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Amelia Birkholz, three children, Mrs. Helenna Johnson of Pleasant Grove, Herman Birkholz of St. Charles, Mrs. Anna Hartz of Charles City, 13 grand-children and one sister, Mrs Augusta Blumenstiel of Rockford, Iowa.
His mortal remains were laid to rest in Riverside cemetery, Charles City, Iowa on Monday afternoon, June 24, 1935.
Source: The obituary is a clipping from old family papers and compiled into a scrapbook in 2008 by Carol Spicer, Thompson, North Dakota. It was likely originally published in a local newspaper in Charles City, Iowa.
Family portrait is the William Birkholz family about 1903 in Charles City, Iowa. William is seated in the center and is surrounded by his children. He is a widower. Standing in the back row, left to right are: Frank, Herman, Anna, Fred. Seated are Lena, father William and Lydia. Portrait frame was stamped “Blumenstiel, Charles City, Iowa.”
Link to Find A Grave Memorial
Floyd Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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