Oscar A. Grulke (1887-1930)

GRULKE

Posted By: Debra Scott Hierlmeier (email)
Date: 11/10/2008 at 16:33:15

OSCAR A. GRULKE 1887-(circa 1930)

PHOTO AVAILABLE

Popular Young Man Takes Own Life
Active in business, discouraged by long illness and business depression contributing cause of act.

Oscar A. Grulke, one of the most prominent young businessmen of our city, committed suicide last Thursday evening by hanging himself in the loft of his garage, where the lifeless body was found two hours later by his wife.

Mr. Grulke had been in poor health nearly two years and had been taking treatment in hopes of regaining his former good health. He had improved a great deal since returning from the hospital several months ago and his friends frequently remarked how much better he looked. Just recently he had not seemed so well.

Thursday afternoon of last week he accompanied his family to the fair grounds and spent the afternoon in the grandstand watching the races and special attractions. He suggested that all east supper on the grounds and stay for the fireworks, which was agreed upon. Shortly after five o’clock he said he would go up to the drug store and see if they needed any help and would return to the grounds. He came up town in company with Andrew Johnson, going to the store and working around until about six o’clock. He then told Joe Carroll, his clerk, that he was going home to supper---Mr. Carroll did not know that the family was at the fairgrounds. This was the last seen of him until his lifeless body was found by Mrs. Grulke about 9 pm.

During the evening Mrs. Grulke was uneasy and tried to locate Mr. Grulke by going to the home of Harry Sarvis and phoning to the store, and then the home. She decided to go home and stopping at the store learned that Mr. Grulke had left there about six o’clock. She then went home and looked about the house for him, even going to the garage and looking around. Just as she was leaving the garage, she decided to look up in the loft. She took a few steps up the ladder leading to the loft and threw the beams of a flashlight up through the opening and saw the body of Mr. Grulke. She was accompanied in her search by her sister who was here on a visit. Help was called and Frank Klindt and others were soon at hand. The body was taken from the loft and placed on the ground in the yard. Later it was removed to the Blust Undertaking parlors.

Oscar A. Grulke was born in Pottawattamie County on a farm southeast of Avoca, January 28, 1887, where he grew to boyhood. His parents later moved to Atlantic where Oscar attended the schools, graduating in the Class of 1906. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith March 31, 1901. After graduating he attended Northwestern University at Chicago, taking a course in pharmacy, graduating in February 1908. In March 1910, he purchased the Avoca drug store and has since conducted the store. October 1, 1911, he was united in marriage to Miss Lula M. Clodfelder of Logan, Iowa, at Council Bluffs. To this union were born three children: Velman, Dwane, and Lorna May all of Avoca.

Oscar Grulke was one of Avoca’s leading business men, always progressive and what we call a ‘live wire’. He spent time and money working for the best interests of our city. He served on the town council several terms and proved a valuable and capable man. During the twenty years Mr. Grulke lived in Avoca he proved himself an asset to our community. He backed every worthwhile enterprise that came before the people with his time and money. In fact, Oscar Grulke’s drug store was headquarters for the young people as well as some of the older ones, his friends were many, his enemies few. He was a World War veteran, having served several months in France. He was a past commander of the American Legion Post of Avoca.

During his illness his friends hoped for a more speedy recovery so his death by his own hands cast a shock of sorrow and gloom over the entire community.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the family home with Rev. Ronald Propst officiating. It was one of the largest funerals in attendance ever held in Avoca. Friends from all nearby towns came to pay their last respects to one who then had known and loved for his many good qualities and splendid character.

From the Scrapbooks of Bessie Gross Gustafsen
Source: Avoca Journal Herald