Spiecker, Theodore 1874-1938

SPIECKER, MORITZ

Posted By: Linda Mohning (email)
Date: 9/5/2011 at 21:12:32

Theo. Spiecker of Remsen died unexpectedly Saturday morning. Mr. Spiecker collapsed while mowing the lawn at his home. He leaves his wife and two daughters, Edna and Alma. The funeral will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. – Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, July 19, 1938, page 3.
----------------------------
Theodore Spiecker Claimed Suddenly. Prominent Remsen Man, Resident Here 56 Years; Victim of Heart Attack Saturday.

The peace and quiet of a prominent Remsen household was decidedly disturbed early Saturday, and innumerable friends throughout the community were called to suffer the loss of a loyal member when Theodore Spiecker, a resident here for 56 years, was stricken suddenly by death while a work in his yard. Heart failure was the cause of his death, which came without warning. Mr. Spiecker was 64 years old and is survived by his heartbroken widow, two daughters, a brother and two sisters. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon in Christ Lutheran church.
Apparently in excellent health up to the moment of death, Mr. Spiecker’s passing was a distinct and heartrending shock to the little family and to his countless friends. There was not the slightest thought of impending disaster in the household, for Spiecker had not complained, in fact he was in unusually jovial spirits Saturday morning. Beginning the day at his accustomed hour he went on a brief shopping trip downtown, returned to take breakfast with the family, visited around the table for a brief period after which Mr. Spiecker went out to mow the lawn. He had made but several trips back and forth and stopped for a brief chat with Hubert Nilles, a friend who chanced to pass by. Scarcely had Mr. Nilles turned to pass on when he saw Mr. Spiecker collapse. The family was called only to see the loving husband and father breathe his last.
Born February 22, 1874, on a farm near Keystone, in Benton county, Iowa, he came with his parents, Hans and Amalie Spiecker, to Plymouth county at the age of eight years. The family settled on what is still known as the “old Spiecker farm” three miles northwest of Remsen. Theodore attended the Remsen public school, having been one of the earliest pupils in the old building destroyed in the cyclone of 1888.
Leaving school he continued to be of assistance to his father on the farm, and on March 7, 1900, was united in marriage to Tena Moritz, member of another prominent local family. The marriage was performed by the Rev. J. D. Hesse, then pastor of Christ Lutheran church. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Spiecker settled on a farm near May City, Osceola county, where they resided for nine years. Returning to Remsen they farmed for a like period north of town, and retired in 1918, purchasing a comfortable home in Remsen in which they lived happily together until death intervened.
Theodore Spiecker’s early departure from this life is a loss to the community as a whole as well as to the bereaved family. He was a man with character beyond reproach—a man who held the highest respect of those with whom he associated or came into contact and whose many acquaintances respected him for his various admirable traits. These traits were exemplified in multiple form in the family circle where he loved and was loved to a degree which made his sudden death the source of indescribable pain.
Mr. Spiecker never sought public preferment, yet was looked upon as a man of sterling quality. His only public service besides those he gave in the form of upright and loyal citizenship, was a period of nine years as secretary-treasurer of the Remsen Cemetery Association, in the affairs of which he took the keenest interest. This position he relinquished two years ago.
Surviving Mr. Spiecker, besides his sorrowing widow, are two daughters, Mrs. C. C (Edna) Kilker of South Sioux City, Nebr., and Miss Alma Spiecker at home; a sister Mrs. Martin Dornbusch of Millbank, S.D., and a brother, Henry, and a sister, Mrs. Herman Oehlerts, of Remsen. Preceding him in death were his father in 1907; his mother in 1915; a brother, Frank Spiecker, in 1924; a sister, Mrs. Anna McLain in 1927; another brother Ferdinand Spiecker, in 1929; a daughter, Madie, in 1908 at the age of 3 years; and a daughter Amalia, in 1921 at the age of 17 years. A sister also died in infancy.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the family home at 1:45 o’clock, followed by services in Christ church and conducted by the pastor, the Rev. A. Noack. Pall bearers were the following nephews: E. H. Spiecker, Vernon Peters, August Hansen, Sylvester Oehlerts, Norbert Kellen and George Moritz. Flower bearers were Miss Thelma Spiecker, Miss Verna Harnack, Mrs. Vernon Peters and Mrs. August Hansen.
Out of town relatives here for the last sad rites are: Mr. and Mrs. George L. Meyers, Leeds; Mr. and Mrs. George Mortiz, Scranton, N. D.; Mr. and Mrs. Philip Raveling and daughters Brenetta and Madie, Lucan, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Anton Ufken, Marshall, Minn.; Mrs. Sievert Raveling, Lake Park, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Everett Hufmeister and Mrs. Peter Nystrom, Worthington, Minn.; Mrs. Martin Dornbusch, Milbank, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Johnson, Paullina, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Chris Kilker and Mr. and Mrs. John Hanno, Le Mars.
Friends from a distance who joined the sorrowing relatives were Mrs. E. N. Swett and Mr. and Mrs. Merle Haynes of South Sioux City, Nebr.; Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Harris of Sioux City, and Merlin Cross of Dubuque. – Remsen Bell-Enterprise, July 21, 1938.
--------------------------------

Also –
Henry Center (Special Correspondence). This community was greatly shocked to learn of the death of Theo. Spiecker, who died at him home Saturday morning. Mr. Spiecker suddenly collapsed while mowing the lawn. He leaves to mourn his departure his widow and two daughters, Edna and Alma. The funeral was held Tuesday. – Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, July 22, 1938, page 4.