PERAU, Doris Elizabeth "Emma" (nee Meinecke) 1865-1945

MEINECKE, PERAU

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/2/2010 at 23:59:26

Funeral services for Mrs. Emma Perau, who died at her home at Toeterville on Tuesday of last week were held at the Toeterville Lutheran Church on Sunday. The services were conducted by the Reverend Raum. Interment was in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Mrs. Doris Elizabeth Emma Perau, daughter of August Meinecke and wife Dorothy, was born in Malzern, Hanover, Germany, on November 5, 1865. On November 12 of the same year she was by holy baptism received into the fellowship of the Triune God and His church. Her secular education was received in the public school of her home town and her religious instruction in the parochial school of the Lutheran church all through her life.

Soon after her confirmation she and her sister immigrated to this country and this community, finding a kind reception in the Toeter home, after having worked out for a few years.

She was united in marriage to William Perau* on April 6. 1883. This union was blessed with eight children, one of whom died in infancy, while three others have preceded her in death.

After their marriage the young couple made their home on a farm in Union Township. A few years later they bought a farm of their own in Otranto Township, about three and one-half miles northwest of Toeterville. On this place the departed spent many happy and fruitful years as a faithful helpmate to her husband and a devoted mother to her children. In 1909, after a serious gallstone operation had weakened her health, they moved to Toeterville where they built their home. A few more peaceful years were granted to her, but they were of short duration as her life was darkened by many sad and painful experiences and losses.

In 1921 her oldest son, George***, died in the prime of life. In 1929 her husband was taken from her side by death. In 1940 she lost another of her sons, August, by sudden death, and last year a third son, Louis, died after a long and painful suffering. In addition to that, her own health began to decline. Severe hemorrhages weakened her strength and the infirmities of her advancing years made themselves felt more and more. In July she suffered a stroke and this paralyzed her throat and tongue and deprived her of her speech. Since February she was confined to her bed, completely helpless. In this long illness she was most faithfully cared for by her daughters and daughters-in-law, especially her daughter Ella who has lived with her for the past eight years.

She passed away peacefully last week Tuesday, May 29**, at 4:35 o’clock.

[ St. Ansgar Enterprise – from St. Ansgar Museum Collections ]
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NOTES:

* St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, Toeterville, lists a John Henry William Perau, born Sept. 7, 1859 and died Apr. 26, 1929.

** It is believed that this was May 29, 1945.

*** St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, Toeterville, says George Perau was born in 1889, and died in 1921