VOELKER, Lydia Frances (Birkholz) 1889-1923
VOELKER, BIRKHOLZ, HARTZ, JOHNSON
Posted By: Betty Silvia (email)
Date: 6/14/2017 at 18:27:56
Lydia Frances Birkholz was born on the 17th day of March 1889 on her parent’s farm in St. Charles Township, Floyd County, Iowa. Here she spent her early girlhood days, attending the public schools and blossomed into young womanhood.
Her parents had brought her to the sacred waters of Holy Baptism early in her life and so they brought her up in the fear of God arranged for her Christian instruction and her confirmation which took place on April 5th, 1903. When she was a girl eight years of age she lost her mother, who died in 1897.
On June 2, 1909 she was united in marriage to Robert Voelker and to their union one child, Kenneth, was born. From the time of her marriage to the spring of 1912 she lived in Minneapolis and since then she has lived in Charles City and assumed the care for those who will sorely miss her gentle ministrations, her husband, her son and her father.
Her brief married life was a most happy one, her duties as a mother she performed in the spirit of kindness and firmness and toward her father she naturally took the attitude of a dutiful and loving daughter. Her home was her delight and here she found opportunity to display her talents for loving service. Kind-hearted, gentle and frank in all her ways and actions she numbered many among her friends, who grieve at her early demise.
Up to about two years ago she was in fairly good health. Since that time, however, she has complained more or less, but was always able to attend to her housewifely duties. Last July she submitted to a surgical operation on the throat and apparently recovered fully from its effects and felt quite well.
A little more than six weeks ago she suffered an attack of influenza which began in the throat and settled in the ear, causing her much pain. She was removed to the hospital where two operations on the head were performed in quick succession; but all efforts to diminish her high temperature proved unsuccessful and when her heart and at last her lungs were affected, the strain proved too great for her weakened powers of resistance and she peacefully fell asleep on Friday evening March 23, 1923, at the age of 34 years and 6 days.
She is survived by her husband, Robert Voelker, her son, Kenneth, her father, William Birkholz, two sisters Mrs. John Hartz of Minneapolis and Mrs. W. Johnson and one brother, Herman Birkholz.
Source: A newspaper clipping among the Birkholz family papers. It was likely published in a local newspaper in Charles City, Iowa. A copy of the clipping was included in a scrapbook of the Birkholz family compiled by Carol Spicer, of Thompson, North Dakota in 2008.
---------------------------------------------Below is a photo from their marriage in 1909.
Link to Find A Grave Memorial
Floyd Obituaries maintained by LaVern Velau.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen