Kirpes, Peter 1889-1924

KIRPES

Posted By: Mona Scheer (email)
Date: 1/6/2008 at 21:40:40

SERVED IN WORLD WAR
Peter Kirpes Was Well Known Resident of Remsen

Peter Kirpes, son of Nicholas Kirpes, of Remsen died suddenly at the home of a cousin in Dubuque last Saturday after a brief illness. He was 35 years of age and is survived by his father, his stepmother, eight sisters and a brother. Mr. Kirpes served in the world war being in the overseas campaign. He had been working at the carpenter trade in Dubuque since January of this year.

The funeral was held Tuesday at St. Mary’s church in Remsen. Members of the American Legion attended the funeral in a body.

~Source: LeMars, Iowa, newspaper
~Date of death: July 20, 1924
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Another Obituary:

LeMars Globe-Post
July 28, 1924

DEATHS

Peter Kirpes, son of Nicholas Kirpes, of Remsen, died suddenly last Saturday morning at the home of a cousin in Dubuque, after a very brief illness. Word of his death reached Remsen Saturday afternoon at 1 o’clock, and Mr. Kirpes left on the evening train to bring the body here, arriving Sunday. The funeral was held Tuesday morning. Mr. Kirpes was 35 years old, and is survived by his father, his step mother, eight sisters and a brother.

Peter, who was engaged at the carpenter trade in Dubuque for several months, was taken sick about four days prior to his death, and went to the home of his cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Welbers, who live on a small farm at the outskirts of the city. But little concern was felt over his illness and after a few days of rest he was able to be about, but remained at the home of his relatives. Saturday morning he undertook to operate a horse drawn grass mower for his cousin, in a nearby field. A little boy in the Welbers household accompanied him. Mr. Kirpes made several rounds with the mower and began to feel weak and decided to rest in the shade while he allowed his little companion to run the machine. After the lad had made one round, Peter sent him to the house for assistance, saying that he was sick. Mrs. Welbers hastened to the field, only to find her relative dead. Physicians stated that high blood pressure was the cause of death.

His father, Nicholas Kirpes, who went to Dubuque immediately upon receipt of the message, returned Sunday afternoon with the body.

Peter Kirpes was 35 years old. He was born on a farm southwest of Remsen on September 1, 1889, and lived with his parents practically all his life. He assisted his father on the farm until he reached young manhood, when he learned the carpenter trade and worked at this occupation for a number of years in this vicinity. He was one of the first Remsen boys to leave in response to the government’s call for soldiers in the world war, and entered at Camp Dodge. He served throughout the war, and spent the last 18 months of his service overseas, receiving an honorable discharge after the conflict ended. He returned to Remsen and spent the next few years at the carpenter trade here, and left last January for Dubuque. In Dubuque, it is reported, he established a reputation as an expert workman.

The news of his sudden death was received in Remsen with profound regret among his many warm friends, and the deepest sympathy goes out to the bereaved family to whom his passing was a severe shock. His mother and one sister, Mrs. Paul Nitzschke, were unable to attend the funeral, owing to the fact that they were in Rochester, Minn., receiving treatment at the clinic. Word was received from them that it was impossible for them to return at the time.

The deceased is survived by his father, his step mother, and the following sisters: Anna, now Mrs. Henry Deitermann, Oyens; Margaret, now Mrs. Fred Raetz, Remsen; Elenore, now Mrs. Joe Deitermann, and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Nick Penning, of Dell Rapids, S.D. There are also the following stepsisters and stepbrothers. They are: Mrs. Joseph Gebhardt, Dell Rapids, S.D.; Henry Lanners, Marshall, Minn.; and Mrs. Aloysius Bohlke, Mrs. Paul Nitzschke and Mrs. Sherman Laddusaw, of Remsen.

The funeral was held Tuesday morning with services in St. Mary’s Catholic church, of which the deceased was a lifelong member. Services were conducted by Rev. Father Bausch. Members of the local American Legion post attended the services in a body, and the list of pallbearers was also made up of former comrades in the military service.

Besides the sisters of the deceased, and their families, the following friends and relatives from a distance attended the last rites: Mrs. Margaret Rhoades, of Fort Dodge; and Mrs. Nick Becker, Miss Lucy Becker and Louis Becker, of Dundee, Minn.