Gettings, Catharine 1861-1906

GETTINGS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/13/2012 at 11:47:32

LeMars Sentinel
January 19, 1906

A SUDDEN SUMMONS
Popular High School Teacher is Stricken with Appolexy and Succumbs
Instantly.

Miss Catharine Gettings, one of the teachers in the high school building,
died very suddenly of apoplexy at the C. H. Kluckhohn residence on
Washington street on Tuesday evening at 8:15 o’clock. Her death was a great
shock and entirely unexpected. She was apparently in good health having
attended to her duties as teacher in the high school all day. In the
evening she ate a hearty supper and after supper retired to her room with
the evening paper. She was to take the paper across the hall to Miss
Dilley, when she had finished reading it. Half an hour passed and she did
not appear. Miss Dilley, thinking she had forgotten about the paper,
stepped to her door and knocked, but received no reply. There was a light
in the room and Miss Dilley entered to find her sitting in her chair and the
paper on the floor near the chair.

Her first thought was that Miss Gettings had fallen asleep but on calling
her and receiving no reply, concluded she had fainted and immediately set to
work to revive her. Her efforts were in vain and Dr. Mammen was called, who
upon examination pronounced her dead.

A short time before her death, Miss Gettings told her pastor that she had
been having trouble with her heart. It has been just about a year since a
brother died from the same cause in his office at Monroe, Wis.

On Wednesday the remains were taken to St. Joseph’s church, of which she was
a member since coming to LeMars, where they were viewed by friends.

Miss Gettings taught five consecutive and very successful terms of school in
LeMars and was well liked by everyone with whom she came in touch. Numbers
of school children called at the church to pay their last respects to their
kind and loving teacher. It was indeed a sad sight as the many young
people, whom she had piloted over difficult paths in school work, gathered
there at the short services held by Rev. Father Feuerstein. Many beautiful
floral tributes were sent by friends and school children. The pupils of her
room sent a very beautiful design.

M. T. Gettings, a brother of the deceased, arrived in LeMars yesterday to
take charge of the remains, and accompanied them to the family home at
Monroe, Wis., leaving on the evening flyer.

Miss Gettings was born at Monroe on August 18, 1861, and lived there when
not engaged in her profession. Three brothers and two sisters reside there.