Bertha Stoecken(1868-1911)

STOECKEN, KUKKUCK

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 4/28/2008 at 23:17:11

Maquoketa Excelsior
January 12, 1911

Mrs. John Stoecken Dead

Mrs. Bertha Stoecken was born Nov. 7th, 1868, in Fairfield township, Jackson county. She was the sixth child of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kukkuck. Being a daughter of Christian parents, she received the sacrament of the holy baptism in her infancy. She was brought up at the home of her childhood, and from there she received an education in the public school which was followed up by the religious training in the catechetical class of the Ev. Luth. Church at Spragueville, whereupon she was confirmed in 1883 and thereby admitted to the communicant membership of said church.

On February 19, 1891, she was married to John Stoecken at which time her parents turned over to them their old homestead, where Mr. and Mrs. Stoecken lived for some time. Later disposing of the place they acquired a different farm in the same township, where she spent the rest of her rather short life, as a loving wife and a devoted mother. She gave birth to two children, Luella now 18, and a son, Eddie, now in his 13th year, from whom she had to part so soon.

The first real sickness she experienced some three years ago, from a protracted attack of small pox. It so undermined her health that she was continually ailing ever since. Finally a little over two weeks before her departure and after several weeks of an increased ill feeling, she succumbed to an attack of acute Bright’s disease. Owing to the severity of the illness and its doubtful outcome, she prepared herself to meet her God by partaking of the sacrament of the holy communion while in full possession of her mental powers. Although united medical help was employed and the best care possible given, it could not prevent the dissolution of the afflicted sister. She departed this life on the morning of Wednesday last at an age of 42 years, 1 month and 9 days. She leaves to mourn her death, her husband John H. Stoecken, two children, Luella, and Eddie, her mother Mrs. Maria Kukkuck, and six brothers and sisters – Henry Kukkuck of Brookfield, Mo., Mrs. Emma Bohnsack, Mr. Charles Kukkuck, Mr. Louis Kukkuck and Mrs. Fred Kukkuck from here and Mrs. Mary Diehl of Polo, Ill.

The funeral services were held Friday at 1 o’clock from the late home and at 1 o’clock from the Lutheran church at Preston. The pastor, Rev. Srugles, has charge of the services which were in both German and English. A large number of sympathizing friends of the family were in attendance to pay the last sad tributes to the departed. There is a general feeling of sorrow over Mrs. Stoecken’s untimely taking away. The pallbearers at the funeral were John Loitz, Aug. Kahler, Fred Mohr, Henry Mohr, Louis Wing and J. J. Lehmkuhl. –Preston Times.