GERDES, Anna W. 1883-1929

GERDES, TJADEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/6/2015 at 06:47:20

Mrs. Gerdes Meets Tragic Death When Struck By A Car

Family Were Enroute To New Home At Lincoln Center

She Lived Six Hours After The Accident

Body Was Brought to Lincoln Center Manse; Funeral Services Were Monday

Mrs. H. N. Gerdes was struck by a passing automobile on the highway about eight miles west of Hampton last Thursday evening about six o'clock and she died from the injuries she received six hours later in the hospital at Hampton.

The Gerdes family were driving from Little Rock, where Rev. Gerdes had been pastor, to their former home at Lincoln Center, to which church he was recently re-called. In the car with Rev. and Mrs. Gerdes were the daughter, Johanna, and the 10-year-old son, Carl. The car had developed engine trouble and it was stopped for a few moments for adjustment. They hadn't any more than got started until they discovered that a pair of gloves had been left alongside of the road. Rev. and Mrs. Gerdes got out of the car to look for them. They had difficulty in finding them and Rev. Gerdes had started for a house nearby to get a lantern. While leaning over to pick up something an approaching car struck Mrs. Gerdes. She evidently did not see it coming and on account of the mist the driver did not see her in time to get out of her way. The radiator of the car struck the woman and carried her for thirty feet until the car was stopped. Her right shoulder and side were badly crushed. The car struck with such force that the radiator was bent back. Mrs. Gerdes was rushed to the hospital at Hampton where everything possible was done for her. She was conscious part of the time until the end came shortly before midnight.

The car which caused the accident was owned and driven by a traveling salesman from Mason City. He was held entirely blameless as it appeared to be humanly impossible for him to have prevented the terrible accident.

Obituary
(By Rev. W. Bode)

Anna Wilhemine Tjaden, beloved wife of the Rev. H. N. Gerdes, was born Sept. 20, 1883, at Lennox, S.D. She was the only daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. M. J. Tjaden, formerly of the Lutheran church near Wellsburg. On June 13, 1905, she was joined in marriage to Rev. H. N. Gerdes. To this union three children were born: Johanna, Theodore and Carl, who with two children of her husband's former marriage, Miss Lena Gerdes and Mrs. Joe Middents, survive her.

Her tragic end was a blow to the whole community as well as the immediate family. The body was brought to the Lincoln Center manse Saturday and services were held at the Lincoln Center church Monday. A great concourse of people gathered to show their respect for the dead and sympathy for the living. The services were in charge of Drs. J. E. Drake and W. Bode. The former spoke in German from Jer. 4:20b,30, and the latter from Luke 8:52. Several pastors assisted in the services, among them Revs. H. Sinning, Swytter, Joling, H. Johnson, D. Siemsen and K. Stratemeier. The consistory acted as pallbearers and the clergy and elders as honorary pall-bearers.

Besides the children she leaves to mourn her husband, the Rev. H. N. Gerdes, and one brother, Dr. John C. Tjaden, of Vermillion, S.D.

Her gentle soul and quiet ways won for her a host of friends wherever she lived and who now join her relatives in mourning her parting.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 19 December 1929, pg 1