FRERICHS, Harm 1887-1940

FRERICHS, KRAMER, MEYER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/9/2012 at 12:32:35

H. J. Frerichs Laid To Rest On Monday

A Great Concourse Gathers To Pay Last Respects To The Town's Premier Businessman

Was Fifty-Two Years Old

His Death Was Sudden And Was Caused By An Attack Of Lobar Pneumonia

Perhaps the largest number every to gather together in Wellsburg met at the Wellsburg Reformed church Monday afternoon to pay a parting farewell to one of its successful businessmen, Harm J. Frerichs, who passed away at the St. Thomas Hospital, in Marshalltown, on Thursday, March 21, after an illness of only a few days. The cause of his death was pneumonia.

Mr. Frerichs had made Wellsburg his home for more than thirty years, coming here in 1909 to accept a position as cashier in the Farmers & Merchants Bank, a position he was to hold until about ten years ago when he entered the oil business, building up the Grundy County Oil Company, of which he was president at the time of his death.

The Rev. Wm. Landsiedel, who had charge of the services, took as his text John 13-7, speaking briefly on his subject. The choir of the church rendered two beautiful numbers as a part of the services.

Casket bearers were: George Lindaman, George A. Geerdes, Earl Greany, John Snittjer, Herman Haack and Henry Kruse.

Harm John Frerichs, son of John Frerichs and Catherine Frerichs, nee Kramer, was born October 12, 1887, in Colfax township, Grundy county, Iowa. After his graduation from the public schools he attained a business education, graduating from the Business College, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

In December, 1909, he came to Wellsburg, to accept a position as cashier with the Farmers & Merchants Bank, which he served over two decades and then decided to establish a business of his own, which in the course of time developed into the Grundy County Oil Company of which he was president at the time of his death.

He was joined in holy wedlock with Bertha Meyer on March 23, 1910. Together they made their home in Wellsburg, and lived here ever since, sharing life's joy and sorrow for a period of thirty years. Their happy union was blessed with one son, John, who with his family is a resident of Wellsburg.

The deceased's health had been for a number of years impaired, but, thanks to God, he was of fair health before he took ill on Wednesday night, March 13th. He became suddenly afflicted with pleurisy, which developed into lobar pneumonia, so that it was necessary to take him to the St. Thomas Hospital, Saturday, March 16th. In spite of all medical care he gradually grew weaker in the last days, in which God granted him the conviction to confess his readiness for his departure.

Hoping for recovery one soon realizes how man proposes, but God disposes, and in the providence of God the deceased was released from his suffering on Thursday, March 21, at 6:15 p.m. He had reached the age of 52 years and five months.

Besides his sorrow stricken companion his loss is keenly felt by the son, John, and his family; his aged father, John Frerichs, of Holland; a sister, Sophia, Mrs. O. A. Ontjes, of Grundy Center; one brother, John Frerichs, of Waterloo, and two grandchildren. Also other relatives and a host of friends mourn his untimely departure.

The Wellsburg Reformed congregation of which he was a member since 1923, extends its deep condolence to the bereaved family and prays the Lord to sustain them in their hour of grief and sorrow. May we all consider the brevity of life for
"Who knows how near my end may be?
Time speeds away and death comes on.
How swiftly, oh how suddenly
May death be here and life be gone.
My God, for Jesus sake I pray:
Thy peace may bless my dying day."

Relatives and friends from abroad who attended the funeral was as follows: Mr. and Mrs. John Frerichs, Holland, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Ontjes and son Edward Ontjes, of Grundy Center; Mr. and Mrs. John Frerichs and family, Waterloo; Mr. and Mrs. Ausbrand Meyer, Grundy Center, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Earl Struber, Manchester; Mr. and Mrs. Boniface Buskovick, Cedar Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Louie Hook, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hook, Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Meyer, Mrs. Sophia Neessen, Miss Marie Steinmeyer, Mrs. John Stevens, Mr. and Mrs. Lurae Stevens, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Iblings, all of Grundy Center.

Mr. and Mrs. Kampman, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Debuhr, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Junker, Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Junker, all of Aplington.

Mr. Fred Ontjes, Mason City; Mrs. Edna Van Meter, Moline, Illinois; Mrs. Fred Oetken, Northwood; Mrs. Gerald Miller, Rockwell; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fee, Waterloo; Mr. and Mrs. Leland Harms, Allison; Mrs. Frank Cemlik and son, Waverly; Mr. and Mrs. Wort Meyer, Mr. and Mrs. Lambert A. Meyer, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Burkley, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Meyer, Mr. and Mrs. Lambert W. Meyer, Miss Verda Meyer, all of Bradford.

Mrs. Leona Anderson, Des Moines; Miss Martha Steinmeyer, West Liberty; Mr. and Mrs. Leegte, Windom, Minnesota; Mr. George Tjaden and son Henry, of Iowa Falls; Mrs. Andrew Meyer, Mrs. Mient Thomas, Mrs. Helen Doonan, of Marshalltown; Mr. and Mrs. Luitjens, Conrad; Mr. and Mrs. Dick Bruns, Rushmore, Minnesota; Mr. and Mrs. Miner Haack, Webster City; Mr. and Mrs. John Kruse, Sheldon; Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Chukker, Green; Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Newhouse, Waterloo; Mr. and Mrs. Al Gienapp, Manchester; F. G. Shepard, Sioux City.

The employees of the Grundy County Oil Company, of which he was the head, attended the funeral in a body.

--Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 27 March 1940