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DETERS, Thomas 1903-1922

DETERS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 8/5/2010 at 21:34:54

Death of Thomas Deters

The entire community was saddened Monday evening when it was learned that Thomas Deters had passed away at his home in German township that evening. Thomas was aged about eighteen years, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hemmo Deters, well known and highly respected residents of northwest Grundy county.

Thomas had been attending college in this city and about three weeks ago was taken sick with tonsilitis which later developed into inflamatory rheumatism, causing his death as stated.

A more extended mention is made of the young man's life in the College notes elsewhere in this issue of the Republican.

The bereaved family and relatives have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends in their great sorrow.

Grundy College Notes

It was with great sorrow that we received the message Monday evening that Thos. Deters, one of our students, had passed away at his home near Wellsburg. Although Mr. Deters has been in a very critical condition for the last week it was generally believed that he was recovering and the report of his demise came to us almost as a thunder bolt out of a clear sky. Mr. Deters left school about three weeks ago, suffering with an attack of tonsilitis. Later inflamatory rheumatism set in which eventually caused his death in spite of all that loving care and medical skill could do. Death, the grim reaper, would claim his own; and this promising young life was called home, into the Great Beyond, at peace with his fellow men and with his Master. Mr. Deters was quiet and reserved and was well liked by all who knew him. He was in the freshman class and had won a warm spot in the hearts of all his associates since entering Grundy College last fall. He was eighteen years, 3 months and 25 days old at the time of his death and leaves to mourn his departure from earth the following relatives: his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hemmo Deters, three brothers, Adolf, Hemmo and Willie; three sisters, Bertha, Jessie and Martha; one grandparent and numerous uncles and aunts and other relatives. The sympathy of the entire student body goes out to the bereaved in their hour of sorrow.

--Grundy Republican, March 1922

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Big Attendance T. Deters Funeral

Friday, the third of March, the funeral of Tommo Deters, son of Hemmo Deters, 4 1/2 miles northwest of Wellsburg, took place.

The pall bearers were members of the class to which the deceased youth belonged at Grundy College. They were August Haupt, Fred Eiten, J. Meyer, J. Kudam, A. DeVries and A. Roscamp.

What a concourse of people! It was perhaps the largest funeral ever held at the Bode church. Through the kindness of some of the good people at Wellsburg, it was possible for fifty or more students from Grundy College to be present and show their respect for their departed classmate, friend and comrade.

Tommo was born at the home place the 2nd day of November, 1903, and died the 27th day of February, 1922.

He leaves to mourn his loss, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hemmo Deters, three brothers, Adolph, Hemmo and Willie, and three sisters, Bertha, Gepka and Martha. He left besides a large circle of friends by whom he was well known all his life, from his childhood to his untimely passing, and at the Grundy College, where he was a student, came many expressions of regret at his demise in the flower of his youth.

Dr. William Bode spoke in the American language and based his sermon on Heb. 9, 27: "And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgement," and brought out that although the loved ones at home, his school associates, and friends would have liked to have him live longer with them, the Great God had decreed it otherwise. Yes, we all will have to leave when the time comes. All men must die. But death is not all, for after death there is something else. Something that we by nature fear. It is judgement. If we but die in the Lord judgement has lost its terror.

Rev. H. C. Bode based his remarks on Ecclesiastics 12, 1: "Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, or ever the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say: I have no pleasure in them."

He spoke somewhat as follows: This is the third time that we have a funeral this year: the first of one who was in the prime of life; the next in ripe old age; and now one in the morning of life, which goes to show that at any hour of our life, death can come and it behooves us all to be ready. Since Tommo was so young it is appropriate that we should have this warning to youthful godliness.

Everybody has something to which he clings: the man of the world to the things upon earth; the moral man to his virtue. What would it help him now if he could say, The whole world is mine? But he repeatedly stated during his illness and they were also his last words: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

Solomon, who was a wise man in his old age tells the youth: Remember thy Creator. This goes to show that he did not believe the evolution theory but that God was his Creator.

Remember, he says. That has the thought of sticking. Stick this in your minds, in your hearts. Too often everything else has room but not the Creator. Remember him, think of Him to keep you from sin, to make you content. "Whom have I in heaven but Thee and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee." Remember Him and think of Him and do not rest until you know that He is your Father in Christ Jesus.

Remember why He has created you and why you are here. Why think of Him as Creator? Because as Creator He has a right to you as His creature.

Remember him in your youth. Just at a time when you perhaps like to think of something else. He is worthy to receive the best of everything. Why serve the evil one when you are young and strong and then when you can not do anything more, turn to Him?

There are evil days coming, when the heart is hardened by sins and the temptations of the world. Not many find Him after slighting Him all their lives.

Believing that Tommo thought of his Creator and ever again telling us that He was his Shepherd and did not fear, even though he had to die, we are comforted. But you who are also young, remember thy creator.

If your youth has already passed be doubly earnest and seek Him before the door of mercy is closed and that forever.

Student Ed Masselink spoke in behalf of the students and spoke of the absent one as one whom they had learned to love. That there is not such a thing as failure with God and trusted that his death might cause them to consecrate more fully to the Lord in the morning of life.

Prof. F. Wieseman spoke words of comfort and admonition at the grave.

--The Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 8 March 1922, pg 1


 

Grundy Obituaries maintained by Tammy D. Mount.
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