Robert Ruby Huntzinger

HUNTZINGER

Posted By: Bill Rathbun (email)
Date: 4/30/2003 at 00:12:14

ROBERT RUDY HUNTZINGER was born in Pottsville, Pa., July 23, 1855, and died in Fairfield, Iowa, January 17, 1884, at the age of 28 years, 5 months and 25 days. His illness was of long duration, and most painful and trying in its character. For many years he had been afflicted with rheumatic troubles. At the early age of 15, he was under the necessity of stopping school, his tendency towards inflammatory rheumatism having so affected his eyes, that at one time he was confined for several weeks in a dark room. Having at least partially recovered, he conceived that an Eastern trip would help him, and for sometime was in the bank with his uncle in the town of his birth. While in Pennsylvania he became interested in Christian matters, and was confirmed in the Lutheran Church, of Pottsville, in company with a large class. His failing health brought him home again, and by every means possible he sought to stay the insidious hand of the dread disease. For a time he was successful, and was in Fairfield engaged in business for about two years. But the apparent check in his disease was only temporary, and for six months he was at the Hot Springs, for five at the mineral baths at Sparta, Wisconsin and during the spring, summer and fall of 1878, in company with a friend made an overland trip through parts of Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas and Indian Territory; but it was all to no effect, the progress of disease was unchecked, and its advances were slow and painful, each stage being marked by a restriction of the activities of its victim. From the time of his outdoor traveling he was for a year confined almost entirely to the house, rarely if ever going out the yard. In August, 1879, he took his bed, and for four years and a half he lay there racked by pain and disease, suffering, no doubt, many deaths. Gradually he grew weaker, his bad spells came oftener and were harder; or at least his failing strength made them less easy to bear. Having known him and visited him almost weekly for more than six months, it gives me pleasure to testify to the Christian fortitude, endurance and patience with which he “waited upon the Lord.” Endowed with a naturally strong constitution and unusual mental capacities he made a strong fight against disease, and his will power, I have no doubt, sustained him to no little extent. Full of energy, ambition and vim, he would have, had it been the pleasure of God, run well the race of life. But God had other things in store for him. Desiring to live, if it should be God’s will, he had no fear of death, and freely talked with me of the mysteries and joys of the other world, into which death was to him the open door, not to be dreaded but to be desired as a beneficent gift from a loving Lord to him. Praying to be relieved of his intense suffering, he prayed “Neverthless not my will, O God, but Thine be done.” He had a work, he did it, for none could look upon him without thinking less of their own troubles. Burdened with my pastoral cares, it was a source of strength to me to visit and talk with him. Being dead he speaketh. He fell asleep on Thursday P.M. at 5:30 o’clock, having been unconscious for many hours.
Fairfield Weekly Journal, Page 3, January 24, 1884