PETERS, Sophie 1873-1932

PETERS, FREESE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/19/2010 at 15:22:46

Peters Funeral to Be Conducted at Grundy Center

The funeral of Mrs. G. O. Peters, who died Sunday evening after a long illness, will be Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. Services will be in the Presbyterian church in Grundy Center and burial in Clark cemetery near town.

Sophie Freese, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Asjen Freese, was born 58 years ago in Pleasant Valley township and spent all her life in Grundy county. She was the daughter of pioneer settlers. Her father was a sheriff of the county.

Her marriage to George O. Peters took place about 40 years ago. They had a daughter, Mrs. Jack Souers, Grundy Center.

Other survivors are six sisters: Mrs. Lena Poppinga, Holland; Mrs. O. A. Meyer, Wellsburg; Mrs. L. D. Kozer, Iowa City; Mrs. Charles Biebesheimer, Mrs. F. S. Beckman, Grundy Center; and Mrs. E. B. Smith, George, Ia.

--Waterloo Daily Courier (Waterloo, Iowa), 20 June 1932

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Mrs. Sophia Peters Called By Death Sunday Evening

Passed Away At Her Home In Grundy Center at Eight O'Clock. Lifelong Resident of Grundy County.

Mrs. Sophia Peters died at her home in this city at eight o'clock Sunday evening, after an illness of less than six months, from internal cancer. She was in her usual good health up until the first of the year, but early in January her health began to fail and she consulted local doctors who after thorough examination advised her to go to Iowa City for further examination and treatment. She was in Iowa City several weeks during late winter taking treatments but her condition kept steadily growing worse. She was back to Iowa City a little over a month ago for treatments but to no avail.

Mrs. Peters was born and spent her entire life in Grundy county. She was a tireless worker in her church, a true christian woman and numbered her friends by her acquaintances.

Funeral services were held from the First Presbyterian church at three o'clock Wednesday afternoon in charge of her pastor, Rev. R. B. Fisher. Her body was laid to rest in the Grundy Center cemetery, beside that of her husband, who preceded her in death a little less than a year and a half ago.

The following obituary was prepared by her pastor:
Mrs. Sophia Freese Peters was born in Pleasant Valley township, Grundy county, Iowa, July 12, 1873. She attended the rural school, then at Holland. Mrs. Peters was the second child of eight girls, six of whom survive her. She was married to George Peters in 1893. To their home one daughter was born.

Mr. and Mrs. Peters lived in Pleasant Valley township near Wellsburg at first then for 9 years they lived at or near Holland. They moved to Grundy Center in 1912 and lived here til they were called beyond.

Mrs. Peters was called from this earthly --unreadable-- Sunday evening about 8 o'clock June 19th at the age of 58 years, 11 months and 7 days. Mrs. Peters was preceded by her husband by nearly a year and one-half, to the world beyond this.

Mrs. Peters leaves besides her daughter, Mrs. June Souers, her husband and two children, Janelle and Jack George, six sisters--Mrs. Lena Poppenga, Holland, Ia., Mrs. Kate Meyer of Wellsburg, Mrs. Reka Koser of Iowa City, Mrs. Tillie Beckman and Mrs. Jennie Biebesheimer, both of Grundy Center, and Mrs. Minnie Smith of George, Iowa. All these six sisters and the daughter and her husband were with her at the time of her passing.

Mrs. Peters belonged to the Women's Relief Corps and served as an officer of that organization for some time.

Mrs. Peters while yet a child was confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Upon their moving to Grundy Center she and her husband united with the First Presbyterian church and were counted among the most faithful members till their death. She was a member of the Ladies' Aid, of the Women's Missionary Society and of the Wimodausis Sunday School class.

She was a faithful attendant at the regular hours of public worship including the mid-week services. Her spiritual nature predominated in her life.

Her church meant very much to her. The Word of God, the messages from the pulpit, the church hymns and the Christian fellowship with other church people were as food and drink to her. Her husband till his death and she felt, that they had some definite part in all these services, and especially when they heard their daughter's voice in their own church choir.

Upon my coming to this pastorate I urged all who would to find for themselves a year verse of scripture to live by day by day and recommended among other fine promises Isaiah 41:10 as one which would be a great help for any to repeat daily and to endeavor to appropriate unto themselves. Mrs. Peters immediately adopted that plan and that verse as her year verse and life inspiration.

Mrs. Peters was known as a beautiful woman in her apparently rugged health until about one year ago. But she was known far more favorably as a good woman. It is no accident and mere coincidence that she was a religious woman and a good woman. While not all religious professing people are good people, we believe that all really good people are religious people. Mrs. Peters' life justifies the existence of the church notwithstanding all criticism hurled against it. May her faith, devotion and life be followed by her host of loved ones and friends who grieve because of her passing. We speak from her favorite verse, Isa. 41:10, today for we believe she would have it so.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 23 June 1932, pg 1