LANG, Lena Magdalena HERMAN 1845 - 1884

LANG, HERMAN

Posted By: Bill Rathbun (email)
Date: 7/6/2003 at 16:12:21

"The Fairfield Journal"
February 14, 1884

The funeral services over the mortal remains of the late Mrs. Geo. Ph. LANG were held at her late home on Burlington street, Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock. The Rev. Amasa B. McMackin, pastor of the Lutheran Church, conducted the services, assisted by the Choir of his church. The services were opened by a beautiful and appropriate voluntary. Then following the
reading of Scripture, prayer and a hymn, after which the funeral discourse was preached from the words of Jesus in Math. 11:28, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” After the sermon another hymn was sung and the services concluded, with the usual ceremonies at the cemetery.

A large number of people came together despite the chilling weather, to pay their respects to the dead and show their regard for the living. Of these a large number followed the deceased to her last resting place. The lodges of Knights of Pythias and United Workmen, to which Mr. LANG belonged, took part in the service, attending in bodies.

The following is the biographical sketch read by Rev. McMackin at the conclusion of his discourse:
Lena Magdalena Lang was born Jan. 29th, 1845, in Madison, Indiana, and died in Fairfield, Iowa, Feb. 7, 1884, at the age of 39 years and 18 days. Her maiden name was HERMAN. On Feb. 25th, 1862, she was married to George Phillip LANG, who
to-day mourns her untimely loss. Born in Indiana she came to Burlington, Iowa in 1856, and to Jefferson county in 1859. The fruits of this union were seven children, four of which were girls and three boys. Of these six are, as mother-less, left to sorrow for a mother’s love, to bewail a mother’s absence, to weep over an empty chair, a broken family circle. One child, a boy, had crossed the silent river before her. Baptized in the Catholic Church she never confirmed her membership, nor did she ever make any profession of Christianity. A kind mother, an affectionate wife, a generous friend and neighbor, she had only good to say of those with whom life’s duties brought her in contact. Her life was humble and quiet, not full of strike and ostentation; its sphere not broad and varied but included and contained largely within her family circle. Death came to her after a short illness.

Her symptoms were not alarming until Wednesday morning, when she was taken with a stroke of paralysis. On Thursday forenoon she became conscious for a short time and was thought to be improving; but alas for human judgment, she soon
became unconscious, never to awaken in this world of tears and sunshine. Many will miss her, but most of all those who must gather around a desolate fire-side, the bereaved husband and children, these and those who mourn to-day, we commend to the care of that righteous and holy One who says unto all: “Come unto me, ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest."

Admin. note: Buried in Old Fairfield City Cemetery. Her husband George remarried to Lena's sister Emily, and died in 1920; Emily died in 1931; they are buried in Evergreen Cemetery.