WEGSTEIN, Otto 1869-1950

WEGSTEIN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/9/2015 at 14:08:14

Otto Wegstein Died Monday

Otto Wegstein, who had been a resident of Grundy Center 74 years, died at the Christie convalescent home in Cedar Falls last Monday. Death was due to advanced age and complications. He was 81 on July 4th of this year. He had been a patient in the convalescent home a few months.

The body was brought to the Coffman funeral home in Grundy Center from which services were held at ten o'clock Wednesday. The services were conducted by Rev. J. A. Kress, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic church. Burial was in the family lot in the Grundy Center cemetery.

Was Born in Waterloo
Otto Wegstein was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wegstein. He was born in Waterloo, July 4th, 1869. In 1876 the family moved to Grundy Center. The father put up a frame building on Main street where the Goodyear store is now located. Lumber for the building was brought by team from Traer. The Wegstein family opened a restaurant and later a hotel in the new building and it became a popular place during the pioneer days. After the parents and an older son, Harry, died, the building was sold and replaced with a two-story brick block.

Helped Erect Many Buildings
Otto Wegstein during his youth learned the mason trade and continued with that until about five years ago when a paralytic stroke disabled his right arm. He was a hard worker and believed in doing a full day's work for a full day's pay. He built the foundations and the walls of many brick buildings in Grundy Center.

Since the death of his mother, he and his sister Annie made their home together in Grundy Center. Neither, Otto nor his sister, nor a half-brother Harry, ever married. The elder Wegstein was twice married. There were two children from the first marriage and three from the second marriage. Annie, who is now 84, is the only member of the family still living. Preceding him in death was a half-sister, a half-brother Harry, one sister, Mrs. Joe Figler. The father and mother, Harry and now Otto are buried in the family lot in the Grundy Center cemetery.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 23 November 1950, pg 3