Closz, Ida Charlotte Biernatzki (1851-1923)

CLOSZ, BIERNATZKI, JEFFRIES

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/24/2016 at 11:21:07

Webster City Daily News, Saturday, January 20, 1923

A Tribute

In the death of Mrs. Charles Closz there passed from earth the spirit of one who will be sadly missed wherever her gentle influence was felt.

While her health had for some time been frail, lately causing her friends much anxiety, she had seemed enough better last week so Mr. Closz started on a business trip to Alabama on Wednesday, but on Friday came the stroke of apoplexy, and she passed away on the following Sunday evening.

Mrs. Closz [Ida Charlotte Biernatzki] was born in Oswego, N.Y., in 1851, and after a brief residence in Canada, the family moved to Hamilton county, Iowa in 1858.

Here was a life made up of varied experiences, such as having been known by those who have seen the frontier wilderness transformed into the abode of settled prosperity and comfort. In 1873, she married a member of another pioneer family, Mr. Charles Closz, and had she lived only a few weeks longer, they would have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Ten children came to their home: Mrs. E.M. Jeffries, Mary, Irene, Cairo, Clara, who died many years ago, Carl, Eva, Irving, Dr. Harold Closz and Vivian.

Three of these, Cairo, Vivian and Eva, they were called upon to give up within a single year, and the crushing bereavement saddened but did not embitter life.

Notwithstanding the claims upon time and strength that came with the care of her large family, she found a place in her thought and interest for things not wholly bounded by the walls of home. She united with the Baptist church with her husband thirty-seven years ago and has always been actively interested in its activities and its mission work. To her, religious principle was a matter of real and vital concern, and, gentle in manner as she was, there was in her character a quiet strength which would not deny her convictions.

During recent years her health had been uncertain and travel and change of climate had been sought. In this she found great pleasure and her family remember especially her enjoyment of the beauty of the western mountain scenery.

She will be missed in the home, to which she had given the devoted service of a life time, and there will be many in the Bible class of which she was a valued member, in the Mission Circle in which she had felt a deep interest and among the neighbors and friends who will long cherish the gentle memory of this good woman.

[WC Daily News - January 16, 1923 - Funeral services for the late Mrs. Charles Closz will be held at 2:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the family home, 918 First street, conducted by Rev. W.H. Garfield, pastor of the local Baptist church, assisted by Rev. L.E. Viets, of Boone, formerly pastor of the church in this city. Interment will be in Graceland cemetery.]