Kirpes, Nicholas 1862-1941

KIRPES, SCHMIDT, HEIDESCH, LANNERS

Posted By: Mona Scheer (email)
Date: 7/9/2007 at 19:39:11

DEATH COMES TO NICHOLAS KIRPES
RESIDENT HERE MORE THAN A HALF CENTURY DIES IN HOSPITAL TUESDAY

Death Tuesday evening in the Sacred Heart hospital, LeMars, took another early-day resident of this community; one who had been here for more than half a century, when Nicholas Kirpes, 79 years old, passed away following a long period of ill health. Surviving Mr. Kirpes are his sorrowing widow, eleven children and one brother. Funeral services will be held in Remsen Friday morning at nine o’clock.

Mr. Kirpes, in failing health for nearly two years, suffered with a complication of internal disorders, but until late last week he was able to be up and around, mingling with family and among old friends although his feebleness was clearly perceptive. Saturday morning there came a sudden turn for the worse, and Saturday evening he was taken to the hospital. In spite of good care the end was foreseen and members of the family were at his bedside when the end came at 6:45 o’clock Tuesday evening.

Born on a farm near St. Donatus, Jackson County, Iowa, on August 15, 1862, Nick grew to young manhood there, assisting with farm work, and in the early eighties came to Remsen, finding work as a farm hand on the farm of Dominic Weilerd. In St. Mary’s church here he was united in marriage in 1886 to Catherine Schmidt, and the couple went to farming. The good wife died in 1909 and Mr. Kirpes with his children, remained on the farm maintaining the home in the face of obstacles, and gradually forging ahead by diligence, honesty and with the help of the growing family. In 1912 he married Catherine Heidesch Lanner, who survives him. The family remained on the farm, having purchased a place immediately adjoining the town of Remsen on the northeast, which still is their property. In their later years, Mr. and Mrs. Kirpes spent seven years in town, returned to the farm for a short period, and two years ago again settled in town in complete retirement.

Mr. Kirpes, a lifelong member of the Catholic Church, was a staunch member of St. Mary’s congregation and a man of strict Christian character who devoted himself to his large family. He was ever honest in his business contacts; was a staunch friend to hundreds of acquaintances, and through his excellent character and splendid disposition won the esteem of everyone. The many friends of the bereaved widow and family join this newspaper in sympathy over the loss of a devoted husband and father, and respected and loyal friend and citizen.

Besides the widow, the following children of the deceased man survive: Mrs. Henry Deitermann, Luverne, Minn.; Mrs. Fred Raetz and Miss Ruth Kirpes, Remsen; Mrs. Joe Deitermann, Elkton, S.D.; and Mrs. Nick Penning, Dell Rapids, S.D.. The following step-children also mourn his passing: Mrs. Joe Gebhardt, Dell Rapids; Mrs. Aloysius Bohlke, Remsen; Mrs. Wm. Laddusaw, Sioux Falls; Mrs. Sherman Laddusaw, LeMars; Henry Lanners, Brandon, Minn.; and Mrs. John Flynn, Fort Dodge. Preceding him in death were his son, Peter, his step-daughter, Mrs. Paul (Mary) Nitzschke, and a brother and a sisters. One brother, John Kirpes, of Colton, Wash., also survives.

Funeral services in St. Mary’s Catholic Church here will be held Friday morning at 9 o’clock.

FINAL RITES HELD FOR NICK KIRPES

Funeral services were held Friday in St. Mary’s Catholic Church for Nicholas Kirpes, longtime resident here who passed away in the Sacred Heart hospital Tuesday evening at the age of 79 years. Active pallbearers were Frank Lenertz, Paul Rodesch, Henry Harpenau, Ben Niehus, Herb Zimmerman, and Lawrence Hames. Honorary pallbearers, chosen from the Luxemburger Brotherhood whose members attended the services in a body, were Math. Diederich, Peter Clement, Peter Thill, Jim Rodesch, Gene Poeckes, and Joe Heidesch.

The following relatives from a distance attended:

Louis Becker, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Becker, Mrs. Charles Schmitz and Miss Margaret Becker, Dundee, Minn.; John Tritz and daughter, Genevieve, Dubuque; Mrs. Mary Burgraff, Mrs. W. Hertz, Mrs. Nick Spielmann and John Burggraff, Hartford, S.D.; Mrs. Mike Kaiser, Marshall, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. John Jungen and daughters, Mary and Martha and son, John, Mapleton, Iowa; Mrs. Magdalene Heinrich, Dell Rapids, S. D.; Mrs. Anna Theisen, Mr. and Mrs. John Wetry, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Campbell, Miss Gladys Campbell, Nick Wanderscheid and Mrs. Mary Leisen, LeMars.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to return our sincere thanks to those who assisted and comforted us during the death of our beloved husband and father. We thank the Rt. Rev. Msgr. M. A. Schemel, the Sisters at Sacred Heart hospital, the members of the Luxemburger Brotherhood; those who gave flowers and spiritual offerings, those who assisted and contributed in the home, and all others who in any possible manner helped to lighten our burden of sorrow.
Mrs. Catherine Kirpes and Family

~note: penned on this obituary is date of death: August 5, 1941