Schmidt, Caroline (Mistele) 1851-1946

SCHMIDT, MISTELE, LETSCHE

Posted By: Linda Mohning (email)
Date: 4/10/2012 at 20:02:04

Death Claims Mrs. Caroline Schmidt. Remsen’s Oldest Resident Passes Away Suddenly Dec. 14.
Death claimed Remsen’s oldest resident – Mrs. Caroline Schmidt, 95, who passed away suddenly in Zimmerman Home, Le Mars, where she had resided for nearly two years. Mrs. Schmidt leaves to mourn her departure a son, a daughter and a sister. Funeral services were held in St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran church with burial in the Remsen cemetery.
Blessed with excellent health throughout her long span of life Mrs. Schmidt was up and busy with her favorite activity – crocheting – during the very last day of her life. She retired Friday night at the accustomed hour and in apparently good health; she arose a 6 o’clock Saturday morning with prospects of another busy, happy day. But a few minutes after leaving her bed a nurse noticed a sudden change and helped her back to bed. The family was notified but she died before they reached her bedside and within a half hour after what was declared a heart attack.
Born August 14, 1951, in Beisgheim, Wurttemberg, Germany, Caroline Mistele became the bride of Frederich Schmidt, also of that area, on September 26, 1880. Mr. Schmidt was a stone cutter by trade and the couple lived in Wurtemberg for nine years. They came to the United States in 1889, bringing their two children, Frieda and Paul. The little family came directly to Remsen, having been preceded there by their relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Schumacher, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Schumacher and Ernest Mistele. The ladies were Mrs. Schmidt’s sisters and Mr. Mistle was their brother.
In Remsen, Mr. Schmidt worked at the mason trade for a time, later joined his brother-in-law Carl Schumacher, in establishing a furniture store. This, the present Moeller furniture store, they sold to the late Theo. Moeller.
Mrs. Schmidt and her husband were charter members of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran congregation and were among its staunchest members until death took the husband March 8, 1915. Mrs. Schmidt continued her active affiliation with the church, was active in its Ladies Aid until advanced age prevented regular attendance. She made her home with her two children for many years and both here and during her brief residence in Le Mars the past two years she enjoyed frequent visits from her family and many old friends.
Surviving Mrs. Schmidt are her daughter, Mrs. Frieda Letsche and her son Paul, both of Remsen, and a sister, Mrs. Mike Schumacher of Marengo, Iowa. Two sons died in infancy in the old country and a daughter, Emma died in Remsen in 1912.
Funeral services Monday afternoon were conducted by Rev. Paul Wuebben. Pallbearers were the deceased lady’s grandsons – Ronald, Paul, Roy and Harold Letsche and Omar and Fred Schmidt.
Among those who came from a distance were Omar Schmidt of Minneapolis and Mrs. Faye Letsche Douglas of Waterloo, Iowa. – Le Mars Globe Post, Dec. 23, 1946, page 7