ROSS, Geska 1858-1945

ROSS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/20/2014 at 13:44:28

Mrs. William Ross Dies Tuesday At Advanced Age

Mrs. William A. Ross died at her home in Wellsburg at four o'clock Tuesday morning. She had been in failing health for about a year. The past 19 weeks she was confined to her bed continually. Advanced age and a heart ailment were the cause of her death. Had she lived until next November she would have been 87 years old. News of her death while it was not unexpected was heard with deep regret by the many friends in this community which she made during the many years which she resided here.

Funeral Services Friday
Funeral services will be held at one o'clock Friday at the home and later at the Second Christian Reformed church. The services will be conducted by Rev. John Rubingh. Burial will be by the side of the husband in the First Christian Reformed church cemetery west of town.

Was a Native of Germany
Mrs. Ross was born in Pilsom, Eastfriesland, Germany, November 21, 1878[sic]. When she was 9 years of age she came with the remainder of her family to America. They had intended locating in Ogle county, Ill. Two weeks after they arrived there the father of the family died. The mother and children soon thereafter came to Butler county where they lived on a farm near Allison. It was while she was working in a home in Shiloh township that she met and later married William A. Ross. That was in 1877. The couple began housekeeping on a Shiloh township farm and the family of eight children were born and grew up there. William Ross, the father, died in 1914. The mother continued to live on the farm with her unmarried children until 1920 when she moved to Wellsburg and made her home here continually up to the time of her death.

Eight Surviving Children
There are eight surviving children. They are two daughters and six sons. The daughters are Mrs. Peter Riekena and Mrs. Dick Huisman. The six sons are Albert, Rieke, Henry, Claus, William and John. All of the children are residents of this community, excepting Albert who now lives in Grundy Center and Claus W., who is with the armed forces in England.

Other surviving relatives are one sister, Mrs. Anna Johnson, Terrall, Iowa, and one half brother, Jake Poppenga, Wheaton, Minn.

Relatives received a letter Monday from C. W. Ross who is still with the armed forces in England. He knew of his mother's critical condition and it is with the deepest regret that he could not be with her during the long period of her illness.

--newspaper clipping, source unknown

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Many Attend Last Rites For Mrs. William Ross

Funeral services were held Friday afternoon for Mrs. William Ross. The services were at the Second Christian Reformed church. The church was filled to capacity throughout the service which was conducted by Rev. John Rubingh. Burial was in the First Christian Reformed church cemetery.

Two appropriate hymns which were dear to the departed sister were sung; the first, "I Hear in the Air," by a male quartet consisting of A. Deters, Harley Lindaman, Leland Luwe and H. Kannegieter; the second, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," a ladies' duet sung by Mrs. C. Beecroft and Mrs. H. Kluver.

Pallbearers were Willard Riekena, Ben Riekena, Kenneth Ross, William Huisman, Jerry Huisman and S/Sgt. Willard Ross. They are all grandsons of Mrs. Ross.

Mrs. Geo. H. Geerdes, Mrs. C. C. Graham and Miss Luella Beving were floral attendants.

Relatives from a distance who were here for the funeral service were: Mrs. Anna Johnson, Paul Johnson, Terril, Iowa; Francis Johnson, Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Howard Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Perry Johnson, Lake Park; Herman Johnson, Hartley, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Reed Roelfs, Mr. and Mrs. John Roelfs, Allison; Mrs. Jans Cooper, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Cooper, Kanawha; Sgt. and Mrs. Willard Ross, Madison, Wis.; Mrs. A. W. Ross, Flint, Mich.; A. W. Ross, Grundy Center; Miss Bessie Geerdes, Steamboat Rock; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Huisman, Parkersburg; Miss Lois Ross, Davenport; Miss Darlene Ross, Iowa City; Mr. and Mrs. John Miller, Dike.

--newspaper clipping, source unknown