EILERS, GERHARD JOHN 1880-1958

EILERS, FRERICHS, BAACK

Posted By: Linda Linn (email)
Date: 4/8/2009 at 21:26:53

LEMARS SENTINEL
MARCH 6, 1958

GERHARD J. EILERS WAS WELL KNOWN RETIRED FARMER

Funeral services for Gerhard J. Eilers, 77, a former resident of this area, were held on Monday afternoon, March 3 in Trinity Lutheran Chruch of Hawarden, with the Barnard Funeral Home in charge.

Gerhard John Eilers, one of 13 children born to Fredrich and Maria Eilers was born on August 8, 1880 at Harvel, Illinois, where he also became a member of the Lutheran Church through Baptism in early infancy.

He left Illinois as a young man and came to LeMars where, on May 22, 1901 he was united in marriage with Gertrude Frerichs. This union was blessed with seven children. In addition, he and his wife fostered two of their grandchildren who became orphaned at the accidental death of their parents in 1940.

The deceased resided on a farm in Plymouth County until 1915 when he moved to a farm three miles southeast of Hawarden. In August 1945 he retired from farming and moved into the city of Hawarden. In 1951 he and his wife observed their golden wedding anniversary in the presence of many relatives and friends.

During the past six months the deceased had been failing in health and several weeks ago he entered the local hospital to submit to an operation. But his condition was beyond the aid of medical skill and he passed away on Friday morning, February 28th.

Preceeding him in death are his parents, his wife who died on May 18, 1956; four children, Fred at age three, George, at six months, Edna, at 4 months, and Ernest in 1940, and ten brothers and sisters.

Surviving his departure include two sons, Clarence and Earl and one daughter, Mrs. Luella Wilkison all of Hawarden; nine grandchildren; seven great grandchildren, a brother, Ed Eilers, and a sister, Mrs. Marie Baack, both of LeMars, and a large number of friends and acquaintances.