Willenborg, Aloysius Stephen "Louis" 1880-1921

WILLENBORG, EICHHORN, HONKOMP

Posted By: Linda Mohning, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/25/2013 at 03:35:21

L.S.WILLENBURG DIES. Prominent Citizen Passes Away After Operation at LeMars Hospital. Funeral Held This Afternoon.
Expressions of deep regret, mingled with surprise on every hand, were heard throughout the community early Sunday morning following the announcement of the death of L. S. Willenburg, for many years prominent in the business and social life of Remsen. Mr. Willenburg died in the Sacred Heart hospital, Le Mars, Sunday morning following an operation for removal of gall stones several days previous.
Mr. Willenburg was 40 years of age, and is survived by his widow, three young children, three brothers, two sisters and his mother. The body was brought to Remsen Sunday; the funeral was held this afternoon with interment in the Remsen cemetery.
Mr. Willenburg began to complain of ill health about two years ago. His condition was not considered serious for a long time, but of late, with his ailment growing more troublesome, his physicians advised an operation. The patient decided some time ago to heed the advice of the medical adviser, and had decided to leave for a hospital in a distant city in the near future, but the trip was postponed, since his ailment was not causing him any serious inconvenience. Three weeks ago his condition began to grow worse, but was not such as to keep him from his daily tasks. He was active about town and his home until last Wednesday, when suddenly, while visiting in the home of a neighbor in the evening, he showed signs of physical suffering. His condition grew so bad during the night, that a physician ordered his prompt removal to a hospital, and the patient was taken to the Sacred Heart institution early Thursday morning. An operation was performed the same day, with apparent satisfactory results. Mr. Willenburg was cheerful during the following two days, and appearances were that he was on the road to recovery, but late on Saturday the attendants saw indication of a grave nature, and advised that this family be called. The patient held up bravely in the face of discouraging symptoms until the last and passed peacefully away at 9:15 o’clock Sunday morning.
Aloysius Stephen Willenburg was born on a farm near Petersburg, Iowa, January 8, 1880. His father passed away when the children were still very young, but the family continued to operate the farm until the spring of 1896, when they settled on a farm four miles east of Remsen. There they resided until 1901, when they moved into town, and have resided here ever since.
Upon coming to town Mr. Willenburg applied for and was appointed to the position of rural mail carrier, and was among the first to be put into that service here when the rural routes were established. His period of service commenced July 1, 1901, and continued until he resigned in 1907. He was united in marriage September 12, 1906, to Gertrude Eichhorn, also of Remsen, the marriage taking place in Le Mars.
The deceased is survived by his widow, three children: Catherine, 13; Myrna, 10, and Lola, 6, besides his mother, Mrs. Catherine Honkomp, two sisters, Mrs. Anna Pick, of Remsen and Ven. Sister M. Myra, of Pocahontas, and three brothers: Clem B., of Dyersville; John W., of Carroll, and Henry A., of Remsen.
Mr. Willenburg’s death came as a severe blow to the sorrowing family and to his many friends in and around Remsen who had learned to hold him in high esteem throughout the many years of his residence here. He was always found active in the business and social life of this community, and was ready at all times to be of service to his friends, especially to those whose wants and requirements he was able to fulfill. The news of his early death was received with genuine regret by all, and the undivided sympathy of Remsen and the surrounding territory goes out to the bereaved wife and children and other members of this esteemable family.
The funeral was held this afternoon conducted by Rev. A. H. Juergens, of St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran church, of which the deceased was a member. Brief services were conducted at the Willenburg home at two o’clock, followed by services in the church. The funeral was very largely attended; a fitting mark of respect and the high esteem with which the hundreds of friends held their departed townsman. At the grave services were conducted by the local members of the Masonic lodge, of which the deceased had been a member for the past year.
The following were pallbearers: Ambrose Jermann, Leonard Recknagel, Edwin Holtgrewe, P. H. Groth, F. A. Sievers, and F. E. Wentz. – Remsen Bell-Enterprise, May 12, 1921, page 1, column 3.

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FUNERAL LARGELY ATTENDED. Impressive Services Held for Late L. S. Willenburg.
The funeral of L. S. Willenburg, Remsen business man who died May 8 in Le Mars, was held Thursday and was one of the largest ever held in Remsen. Members of the Masonic order from many nearby towns as well as from Woodbury, Monona and Sioux and Cherokee counties were in attendance, and 140 Masons attended the services in a body.
The services were conducted at the home and in St. Paul’s church by Rev. A. H. Juergens, and at the grave the ceremonies were conducted by the Masonic members, Oscar J. Hoberg, of Sioux City officiating. Mr. Willenburg joined the lodge just a year prior to the day of his funeral, and was a member of the Blue lodge at Marcus, and of T. S. Parvin consistory No. 5, Sioux City.
Among those who attended the funeral besides the fraternal brothers of the deceased, were: Henry and Frank and C. B. Willenburg, Dyersville; Mr. and Mrs. John Willenburg of Carroll; Anton Meis, Le Mars; Mr. and Mrs. Emil Schuetloeffel, Larchwood; Andrew Schuetloeffel and daughter Marie, Walnut, Iowa; J. C. Eichhorn, Oskaloosa, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Eichhorn, Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Ahmann, Mrs. Catherine Eichhorn and daughter Mabel, Sioux City. – Remsen Bell-Enterprise, May 19, 1921, page 1, column 6