FRERICHS, Dick 1873-1949

FRERICHS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/27/2016 at 15:16:45

Dick Frerichs Found Dead In Bed At Home

Dick Frerichs who had been a resident of Grundy county 47 years, was found dead in his bed at his home in the south part of Grundy Center Monday evening. The exact time of his death is not known. It is believed it may have been last Wednesday night. He had gone to bed for the night and there was no sign of any struggle. Death is believed to have been the result of a heart attack. He had had a number of heart attacks before.

Ben Van Deest Jr., who is working the Frerichs 80 acres a half mile west of Grundy Center, called at the Frerichs home Wednesday night but there was no one home and the truck was not there. He called again Friday night but the house was locked when he tried to get in, but the truck was there. He came back to the Frerichs house Monday evening, found the truck in the same place and the doors locked. He notified some of the relatives and they, in company with Sheriff John Meyer, entered the home and they found Dick dead in his bed.

County Coroner Harold Engelkes was notified and he took charge of the body and had it removed to the Engelkes funeral home. It was clear that death was the result of a natural cause and a coroner's inquest was not regarded as necessary.

Funeral Service Wednesday
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Engelkes Funeral Home. The service was conducted by Rev. F. J. Langenberg. Burial was in the Grundy Center cemetery.

Born in Germany
Dick Frerichs was born in Oldenburg, Germany, Sept. 29, 1873, making him 76 years old last month. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Frerichs. In 1902 he came to America and to Grundy county. For a few years he worked on the farm for Mr. and Mrs. Henry Klunder. In 1906 he rented what is known as the Hickory Grove farm from the late W. C. Williams, father of Mrs. Edna Hayes. He operated this farm for 37 years and moved to Grundy Center 5 years ago. He never married and lived by himself on the farm and also after he moved to town. For many years he was known as a top ranking breeder of Percheron horses.

Surviving are a brother and sister in Germany and three half brothers, Carl and John Frerichs, Grundy Center and Conrad Frerichs, Dolliver, Iowa. There are four nephews, two residing in this country and two in Germany.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 20 October 1949, pg 10