Hilke, Ernestina Caroline Louise (Groth) 1840 – 1940
HILKE, SPLETTSTOESER, SPLATTSTOSER, SPLETTSTOESZER, GROTH, WEBER, VAGTS, HAMILTON, COLE, HOPPE, DERR
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/20/2013 at 17:29:44
Source: Cresco Plain Dealer November 14, 1940, Page 1 and 8
Last Rites For Cresco Centenarian
Mrs. Ernestina Hilke Died At Mercy Hospital Saturday
Funeral services for Mrs. Ernestine Hilke, 100, Cresco’s oldest resident, were held Monday afternoon at Immanuel Lutheran church with the Rev. L. W. Moench, pastor, officiating. Burial was made in the Howard Center cemetery.
During the services the hymns “Abide With Me” and “For Me To Love is Jesus” were sung by Mrs. Earl Widman and Mrs. George West.
The following account of Mrs. Hilke’s life was read at the funeral by the Rev. Moench:
Mrs. Ernestine Carolina Louise Hilke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Groth, was born Oct. 3, 1840, in Germany. As a child she came to America with her parents, settling in Wisconsin.
Move to Iowa
On May 7, 1864, she entered the holy state of matrimony with John Frederick August Hilke at Ixonia, Wis., the Rev. Heckendorf performing the ceremony.
In 1870, she moved with her husband and three children, William, Frank and Ida (Mrs. Ed Weber) and three step-children, Bertha (Mrs. Theo. Vagts), Minnie (Mrs. S. A. Hamilton) and Agusta (Mrs. Cole, deceased) to Calmar, Ia. After a short time they settled on a farm six miles west of Cresco.
The union with Mr. Hilke was blessed with nine children, five of whom preceded Mrs. Hilke in death. Four died in childhood days and a son William, three years ago. Mr. Hilke preceded her in death July 11, 1880.
Comes to Cresco
Later Mrs. Hilke was married to Henry Splettstoeser. After six years of married life he was taken from her by death through an accident. Having no living children from this second union, the widow again took the name of her children, Hilke.
Mrs. Hilke moved to Cresco 39 years ago. The last ten years she lived with her daughter, Mrs. Geo. Hoppe who faithfully and lovingly cared for her.
On Oct. 3, 1940, a special service was arranged for her by the Bethany Circle of Immanuel Lutheran church in commemoration of her 100th birthday. Mrs. Hilke was an honorary member of the Circle.
On Nov. 4, Mrs. Hilke fell and fractured her hip. She was taken to the hospital and five days later on Nov. 9, at 9:30 a.m. her good Lord called her home at the age of 100 years, one month and five days.
She leaves to mourn her death three daughters, Mrs. Ida Weber, Mrs. Allie Hoppe and Mrs. Nellie Derr; a son, Arthur Hilke; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Bertha Vagts and Mrs. Minnie Hamilton; one brother, Carl Groth of Fredericksburg; 22 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
Memorials totaling $34.00 were given for charities and missions by Mrs. Hilke’s family, the Martin Vagts family, the Bethany Circle and M. J. Chyles.
Transcribed from a newspaper clipping submitted by Janice Sowers.
Transcriber’s Note: Mrs. Hilke’s second husband’s name is spelling differently in his obituary from the cemetery records and also in her obituary; therefore, all spellings are included in surnames.
Howard Center Cemetery
Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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