Westman, Gertrude Persdotter (1838-1930)

WESTMAN, PERSDOTTER, ANGSTROM

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:02

OBITUARY
Mrs. Jonas Westman

Mrs. Jonas Westman died quite suddenly and after a short illness Monday morning at about 1 o'clock. She was Stratford's oldest resident and for several years had been unable to leave her home. She was one of the pioneer settlers of this section of Iowa.

Gertrude Pearson Westman was born in Bjurakern, Helsingland, Sweden on October 3, 1838, and had thus passed her 91st birthday last October, being at the time of her death 91 years, 3 months, 17 days old. She was united in marriage October 15, 1863 to Jonas Westman in Sweden and together they came to America in July 1968, locating on a farm northeast of Stratford where they lived together until Mr. Westman's death in October 1900. To them was born three children, Mrs. Betsy Angstrom, Miss Christine and Adolph Westman, all of Stratford, whom survive together with two grandsons, Leonard and Elmer Angstrom and their wives and two great grandsons. More than 60 years ago she united with the Baptist church and though of late years she had been unable to attend the regular services of the church she was fond of reading her Bible in her home. One of the last feelings of sorrow or disappointment that she expressed was the year that she would be unable to read even though she had passed her ninetieth year she was alert until the last being able to converse on topics of the day as well as relate stories of bygone experiences. She had lived a quiet peaceful life and so her earthy pilgrimage also ended.

Funeral services were held at the family home and from the Baptist church yesterday at 2 o'clock and the remains were interred in the South Marion Cemetery. Rev. C.J. Ackerman officiated at the services.