Clarence George Bricker (1926)

BRICKER, BENNETT

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 1/9/2011 at 13:30:52

Winterset Madisonian
Thursday, December 16, 1926
Page 12

Clarence George, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Melvin Bricker, was born in Penn township, Madison county, December 4th, 1895, and died at his home December 8th, 1926, aged thirty-one years and four days. His boyhood days were spent in that community. At the age of thirteen he moved with his parents to Madison township, where he made his home until death called him away.

On April, 1917, Clarence answered the call of his country, going to Camp Dodge. From there he was removed to a Texas camp and in a short time was sent with a special group to the fields of battle where he served most of his time as a runner. On the signing of the Armistice he tendered military work in Germany.

His life came to its greatest fulfillment on the 24th of December, 1924 when he was united in marriage to Dorothy Bennett. These two hearts, it seemed, had a long future of happiness ahead of them. His illness was brief. On the morning of the 8th he bade those so near and dear to him “Good-bye” expressing a wish to ---------- .

Clarence was a loving son, a kind brother, and a faithful and devoted husband, and ever a loyal and true friend. His smiling face brought happiness and sunshine, wherever he went. He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife, father and mother, five brothers: Ralph B., Walter, Charles and Earl of Earlham, and Herschel of Cedar Rapids, and a host of friends.

The funeral services were held from the Fairview Methodist church Friday afternoon at 1 o’clock in charge of the pastor, Rev. James Walls. His body was laid to rest by the side of his sister, Gertrude, in the Penn Center cemetery.
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Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, December 9, 1926

DEATH TERMINATES PROMISING CAREER

Clarence Bricker Answers Summons Only a Few Days After Sudden Appendicitis Attack. Community in Sorrow Over Untimely Death of Young War Veteran and Farmer.

Stricken as out of a clear sky by an attack of appendicitis last Friday evening, Clarence Bricker, aged 31, passed away Wednesday morning after an illness of only five days, medical skill being unable to stay the swift progress of the disease. It was recognized almost at once that the seizure was a mortal one. A diseased appendix had been ruptured and the system flooded with poison which so completely involved the abdominal cavity that operation was impossible. Peritonitis soon set in and it was apparent that death was but a matter of time. Confronted with the grim reality of the death summons, Clarence proved himself as brave a soldier in the losing battle as he had been in the world war. He resigned himself to the inevitable with amazing fortitude and a few hours before his death called his loved ones to his side and bade them a last farewell. He looked to the future with complete confidence, said he would soon be in Heaven and told those gathered about him that they would find him waiting for them there when life’s brief span had ended. Up to the last he retained complete control of his mental faculties and words of hope and prophecy trembled on his lips even as life ebbed out and his spirit took flight to the undiscovered country.

Men in the ordinary walks of life rarely die so gloriously, so bravely. Surely Clarence died as the immortal Byron admonishes us: “Not as the slave, scourged to his dungeon,” but “sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust, lie down to pleasant dreams.” And truly Clarence Bricker so lived that his summons would come in that guise. It will mean so much to those who lived close to him, walking in sorrow the years ahead without his presence, that he died as he lived, strong and true. His memory will be as a bright light in the encircling gloom, beckoning on to a glorious dawn.

Clarence had a distinguished record of service in the great war, serving for fourteen months during the bloody months which preceded the Armistice. From the battlefields of France he returned to the simple life of the Iowa farmer without ceremony, the stirring episodes of 1917 – 1918 a forgotten chapter in his life. He was an admirable citizen and neighbor, living in harmony with his fellows without criticism or fault-finding and completely respected by all with whom he made contact.

Last Friday found him in normal health and just finishing with his corn picking. Mrs. Bricker had preceded him to a meeting at Fairview Church while he completed the evening work. He was stricken so sorely that it was only by a supreme effort that he reached the house and called his brothers on the telephone. They found him entirely helpless on the floor below the instrument. He had been subject to appendicitis on previous occasions, but never to the point of an operation that would have saved his life.

Funeral services were held at Fairview Methodist Church Friday afternoon at one o’clock in charge of the pastor Rev. James Walls. A squad of war veterans under command of Capt. Aikins, of Winterset, acted as escort and accompanied the body to Penn Center Cemetery. There he was laid to rest by the side of his sister Gertrude with military honors. The following obituary was read at the farewell service:

Clarence George, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Melvin Bricker, was born in Penn Township, Madison County, Iowa, December 4, 1895, and died at his home December 8, 1926, aged thirty-one years and four days. His boyhood days were spent in that community. At the age of thirteen he moved with his parents to Madison Township where he made his home until death called him away.

In April, 1917, Clarence answered the call of his country, going to Camp Dodge. From there he was removed to a Texas camp and in a short time was sent with a special group to the fields of battle where he served most of his time as a runner. On the signing of the Armistice he tendered military work in Germany.

His life came to its greatest fulfillment on the 24th of December, 1924, when he was united in marriage to Dorothy Bennett. These two young hearts, it seemed, had a long future of happiness ahead of them. It was in the spring-time of life. The road to happiness stretched alluringly before them and they loved one another with that attachment which is like a benediction from heaven.

His illness was brief. On the morning of the 8th he bade those so near and dear to him, “Good-bye”, expressing a wish to meet them all in heaven.

Clarence was a loving son, a kind brother, a faithful and devoted husband, and ever a loyal and true friend. His smiling face brought happiness and sunshine wherever he went. He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife, father and mother, and five brothers: Ralph B., Walter, Charles, and Earl of Earlham, and Herschel, of Cedar Rapids, and a host of friends.

Gravestone Photo
 

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