Meinke, William F. 1864-1925

MEINKE, BECKER, OTT, DYER, SCHOCKER

Posted By: Jo (email)
Date: 5/19/2007 at 12:36:30

OBITUARY OF WM. F. MEINKE
William F. Meinke, son of John J. and Mary Becker Meinke, was born near Preston, Iowa, Jan. 22, 1864, and grew to young manhood in that vicinity, and received his education in the rural school. He was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Ott, Feb. 26, 1885, and was the proud and happy father of one daughter, Mrs. Clara C. Dyer of Maquoketa, and two sons, Albert J. of West Branch, Ia., and Louis C. of Delmar, Ia.
He lived near Springbrook till 1889 when he moved to the farm four miles southwest of Maquoketa where he resided until he bought the A. H. Jenkins farm in 1912. Here he lived and improved his farm until he sold it and came to Maquoketa to live in 1922.
He was baptized in infancy and at the age of 14 by the rite of confirmation he became a member of the Lutheran church at Spragueville, Iowa. On April 11, 1909, he became a member of the Reformed church and has been a faithful and active attendant, seldom absent from a service. He had been an elder in the church for a number of years and was a delegate to the higher bodies of the church.
He was one of God's noble men and interested in the things that lead to better and higher ideals. He was a man of deep religious consciousness and the church claimed his attention and support next to his family and his home. It was part of his life. He was a public spirited man and did what he could to build up the rural schools and rural social life. A friend and neighbor, ever ready to help or befriend any one in need. An exmplary man, whose life and character has been an incentive and a help to better things and to all who knew him.
He was not of a rugged constitution in life, but until Nov. 14 he was farily well, when he was taken with a dizzy spell; this passed away and Nov. 20 his throat became more or less paralyzed. Medical counsel was held Nov. 23 and he was taken to Fnley hospital in Dubuque where specialists and all that medical skill and love could do was done to relieve his suffering and to resore him to health, but to no avail and he fell asleep in Jesus on Monday, Nov. 30, at 3:30 p.m., at the age of 61 years, 10 months and 8 days.
His work is well done and he has entered into rest.
Beside the sorrowing and bereft wife, daughter and sons, seven grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. Sophia Schocker and a large circle of relatives ang friends mourn his departure.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, Dec. 3, at the home on S. Second street, prayer at 1:30 p.m. and sermon by his pastor at the Methodist church at 2 p.m. where a large circle of friends gathered to pay last earthly tribute to the departed. Miss Minnie Atzen and Mrs. Louise Swigart Ellis sang consolingly. Burial was made in the family lot at Union cemetery, Rev. D. F. Boomershine officiating.
DEATH DATE: November 30, 1925
SOURCE: Private collection of newspaper clippings