Lautenbach, Sophia Kathrine Ulrich - 1873 - 1929

BRYANT, LAUTENBACH, ULRICH, VANDER ZYL

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 6/17/2021 at 19:00:17

Death Summons Comes For Mrs. C. Lautenbach
Estimable Lady Dies In a Few Minutes Following a Paralytic Stroke
Was Life-Long Resident
Active In Religious Affairs, She Has Left Impress for Good Everywhere
A pall of sorrow was cast over this community Friday by the news that Mrs. Charles Lautenbach had died very suddenly that morning at 10:15 o’clock at her home, 813 Liberty Street.
Mrs. Lautenbach arose Friday morning in her usual state of health, which was greatly improved over that of past months, and she had performed several tasks about the house. All at once, without any premonition of impending illness, she was stricken with paralysis. She called her daughter, Sophia, who immediately rushed to her assistance. By this time her mother had managed to reach a couch in the room. Realizing her critical condition, a physician was summoned, but she passed away before his arrival.
Mrs. Lautenbach’s death was a distinct shock to the community, as it was generally believed she was reasonably well, and from all appearance she was, and maintained such a happy and cheerful disposition as to create that impression. On the Sunday preceding her death she had attended services at the Baptist church and on the Monday night following she was present at a business and social session in the church parlors. She appeared so well that friends could not associate the thought of death with her, even after they had heard of her passing.
An audience that packed all available space in the auditorium and gallery assembled at the Baptist church Monday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock for the funeral service, following a brief service at the house at 1:30 o’clock. Both services were in charge of E. V. Goad, supply pastor of the church, who, after speaking a few words in commendation of the life of the deceased, delivered a discourse from the words in Rev. 14: 13, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, yea saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them. Some of the thoughts brought out were: We must die in order to live and then live in the highest sense before we can properly die; that it is not an awful thing to die, but it is an awful thing to live when fully conscious of the obligations and responsibilities resting upon us, and dying in the Lord is the natural result of living in the Lord.
A quartet composed of Ray De Haan, Miss Korver, Miss Timmerman and H. H. Sadler sang very effectively “Nearer My God To Thee,” “He Is So Precious To Me,” and “Asleep In Jesus,” with Mrs. S. F. Cole as organ accompanist. The pulpit was literally banked with floral offerings, which, with the large audience, was a concrete testimonial of the high esteem in which Mrs. Lautenbach was held. Interment took place at Oakwood cemetery.
Sophia Kathryn Ulrich, daughter of John Ulrich, Sr., and Bertha Vander Zyl, was born at Pella, July 28, 1873, and died at her home, 813 Liberty Street, October 25, 1929, her death being caused by a paralytic stroke which she sustained a few minutes before. Her age was 56 years, 2 months and 27 days.
She was married on March 16, 1892, to Charles Lautenbach, who with the following children survive her: Casper of Pella; Robert of New York City; Paul and Fred of Pella; Lee of Hospers, Iowa, and Sophia of Pella. Another daughter, Sarah, died March 18, 1916. She also leaves four grandchildren: Marjorie, Kathryn, Keith and Charles Lautenbach. In addition to these, she is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Ulrich, a brother, W. F. Ulrich, of Denver, Colo., and a half brother and sister, John Ulrich, of this city and Mrs. Lena Bryant, of El Paso, Tex.
In youth Mrs. Lautenbach professed faith in Christ and united with the Baptist church. She ever lived a consistent, devoted and faithful Christian, always active in the work of the Sunday school, Aid and Mission Circle and in other departments of the church. A home-maker by temperament, she devoted the major portion of her life to the rearing of her family, but she found time to attend church services and to help in its ministration, being very faithful in recent years in attendance upon the means of grace.
While her illness dated back to several years ago, she was a patient sufferer, never murmuring of complaining and bearing it all with Christian faith and fortitude.
She will be missed in the home, where she was a devoted wife and kind and indulgent mother, in the church, where she was faithful to every task, and in the community, where she was held in high esteem for her integrity of character and life of good deeds.
Source: Pella Chronicle; October 31, 1929, page 1, col. 10