Jesse F. Sheetz d. 1885

SHEETZ

Posted By: Melissa Mayhew Grandt (email)
Date: 4/17/2009 at 22:18:42

Williamsburgh Journal, Williamsburgh (Iowa Co.), Iowa, 4 September 1885.

OBITUARY.
DIED-- On Saturday Aug. 29th 1885, JESSE F. SHEETZ, aged 23 years, 2 months and 7 days.

He was a young man of fine character and commanded the respect of all who knew him, a short but useful life closed serenely, when this examplary young man passed away, death comming thus early closed a life that was full of promise. For some months past his friends have been very solicitous about his recovery, but during all these dark sorrowing weeks his hopeful happy disposition did much to retard the progress of that insidious disease, that great antagonist of human life, consumption, for he clung, to life with a tenacity of one who hasthe loftiest conceptions. of lifes responcibilities. The approach to the end was gradual and most peaceful, as one who falls asleep in the hope of a glorious resurrection.

The pale casket tells of the awful crash of the dissolution of elements, in the physical realm, but back of all storm clouds and howling cyclones are shining suns, bright stars and peaceful planets. So, back of this death, which rests like a pall upon the home; behind these fretful clouds perchance, we may find the comforting rays of hope, some inspiration of immortality. He has passed throguh the waters of the "Leal" and now lives rejoicing on the other side, we shall see him again and clasp glad hands in eternal recognition, in that elysian land, for we are born for a higher destiny than earth; there is a realm where the rainbow never fades, where the stars will be spread before us like islands that slumber on the ocean, and where the beings that pass before us like shadows will stay in our presence forever. Our departed friends can not come back to us, we can go to them and with them roam those evergreen hills, and pluck the sweet exotic flowers, that forever bloom, in the Eden above, there farewells do not cast their shadows along the pathway. Soon our life work will be done, and we shall meet and clasp our departed friends, and by their angelic presence, be lifted up to that beautiful kingdom of light, that sweet "summerland of the soul."

Memento mori.