Brunsman, Joseph 1869-1942 & Mary Koppert Family

BRUNSMAN, KOPPERT, DOPHEIDE, MAIERS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 12/17/2023 at 05:54:25

Brunsman, Joseph 1869-1942 & Mary Koppert Family

This story was taken from the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Book 1883-1983 page 130-131. The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes have been added. Also for more family background see the BIOS of his father Herman Brunsman 1836-1897 on this site.

Joseph Brunsman was born in Gembte, Westphalen, Germany on Jun 4, 1869. He came to the United States and Sioux County in 1881 with his father Herman Brunsmann, and brothers Barney and Bernard, and sister Lidwina. (It is concluded that Barney and Bernard were most likely the same person.)

On Feb 11, 1896, he was married to Mary Koppert at St. Mary’s church Alton IA. Mary Koppert was born in New Vienna, Iowa on Feb 28, 1878.

Ten children were born to this union: Agnes (Mrs. Peter Wiltgen) on Dec 3, 1896; Vincent on Set 21, 1898; Gilbert on August 16, 1900; Sylvia (Mrs. Dominic Thill) on Dec 2, 1902; Aurelia on April 7, 1904 died July 24, 1905; Lucina (Sister Mary Gilbert) on Jun 29, 1906, Clarinda (Mrs. Linus Freking) on Sep 9, 1908; Cletus on October 8, 1910; Rosina (Mrs. Wayne Hatton) on Mar 9, 1913; and Vernon on Jan 17, 1917.

Mr. Brunsman passed away April 21, 1942, Mrs. Brunsman passed away on May 14, 1959. Mr. Brunsman was a veteran decorator and was widely known as a skilled artisan taking great pride in painting and paper hanging. Mary Brunsman in addition to raising her own family cared for Lidwina Brunsman, and Joseph Wiltgen whose mother passed away during the flu epidemic during the first World War.

RESEARCH Notes: From a family report on ancestry.com submitted by other than this submitter.
Wilhelm Joseph ‘Joe’ Brunsman was born Jun 4, 1869 Gimbte, Westphalen, Germany and died Apr 1942 Sioux County IA. His parents were Hermann Brunsman and Anna Dopheide. (See their family BIOS on this page). Joseph married 11 Feb 1896 to Maria Gertrude ‘Mary’ Koppert at Alton IA.

Maria Gertrude ‘Mary’ Koppert was born Feb 28, 1878 New Vienna, Dubuque County IA and died May 14 !959 at Alton IA. Her parents were Andrew Koppert 1847-1925 and Barbara Elizabeth Maiers 1851-1926. Joseph and Mary Brunsman were the parents of ten children.

CHILDREN: Found on Ancestry.com and local obituaries.

1. Agnes Brunsman born Dec 3, 1896 Alton IA, died Nov 25, 1874. She married John Peter Wiltgen, born 1880 died 1962 married 1 May 1922 at Alton IA. They were the parents of Beatrice Wiltgen 1910, Clara Ann Wiltgen 1911-1973, Lawrence Wiltgen 1914, Charles Wiltgen 1915, Joseph James Wiltgen 1918-1973, Rita Grace Wiltgen 1924-2009, Eugene Francis Wiltgen 1926-2009 and Donald Gilbert Wiltgen 1927-1987. (Her obituary can be seen on this page Wiltgen, Agnes (Mrs. John P. ) 1896-1974

2. Vincent Herman Brunsman born Sep 21, 1898 Alton IA, died Apr 29, 1985 Salem, Marion, OR.
Obituary - Vincent Herman Brunsman, 86, of Salem, Ore., died Monday, April 29, 1985. He was born in Alton and served with the U.S. Department of Health as a supervising medical technician at the Leavenworth Federal Prison. He also worked for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics Hospital at Lexington, KY., and as surgical assistant for the veterans administration at Wadsworth, Kan. He was a veteran in the U.S. Army during World War I, and was appointed hospital manager for the correctional institution in Salem, Ore., from 1959-1970 from which he retired. He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Salem, Ore., and Knights of Columbus and American Assoc. of Retired Federal Employees. Survivors include his wife, Monica Martina Brunsman of Salem, Ore., daughter Mary Jane Kelsey, Spokane, Wash.; sons, Jerome and John Brunsman both of Salem, Ore., James Brunsman, London, England; brothers, Vernon Brunsman, Portland, Ore., "Clipper" Cletus Brunsman, California; sisters, Sister Mary Gilbert O.S.F., Monticello, Clarinda Freking, Le Mars; six grandchildren and one great-grandson. Rosary was held Wednesday, May 1, 7:30 P.M., at Rigdon-Ransom Colonial Chapel in Salem, Ore. Mass was held on Thursday, May 2 at 10 A.M., at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Salem, Ore. Private interment was at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Ore. Source: Sioux County Capital, May 9, 1985

3. Gilbert Albert Brunsman born Aug 16, 1900 Alton, IA, and died Nov 14, 1963
Source ‘Find A Grave’ Obit; Birth: August 16, 1900 Death: November 14, 1963. Gilbert Brunsman was born August 16, 1900 to Joseph and Maria (Koppert) Brunsman at Alton, Sioux County, Iowa. Gilbert married Ida E. Krantz on October 11, 1927 in Granville, Iowa. Gilbert and Ida did not have children. He passed away November 14, 1963 and was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery at Alton, Sioux County, Iowa.

4. Sylvia Agnes Brunsman born 2 Dec 1902 Alton IA, and died Apr 1979 Remsen, IA. She married Dominic Thill. An ancestry.com report by others, lists Dominic Joseph Thill born 19 Dec 1901 Remsen IA, died Dec 1983 Merrill IA, his wife was Sylvia Josephine Brunsman born 2 Dec 1902 Alton IA died Apr 1979 Remsen IA. Children listed were Leland Joseph Thill 1921-2006, Virgeene Agnes Thill 1924-2006, Dale Peter Thill 1927-1927, Roger Edward Thill 1929-1996 and one other child not mentioned.

5. Aurelia Brunsman born on April 7, 1904 died July 24, 1905 Infant of Joseph and Mary Brunsman

6. Lucinda Brunsman born 1907 Alton IA. Lucinda (Sister Mary Gilbert) born on Jun 29, 1906, lived in Monticello in 1985. Find A Grave lists Sr. Mary Gibert ‘Lucinda’ Brunsman born 29 Jun 1906 Alton IA died 16 Jun 1992 at Dubuque IA buried in Mount Calvery Cemetery Dubuque. She taught music and voice in many schools.

7. Clarinda Brunsman born Sep 9, 1909 Alton IA and died Aug 26, 1993 Davenport, IA. She married Linus Freking on Nov 8, 1937 St. Mary’s Church Alton IA. They lived in Le Mars, He died Nov 27, 1988. Then Mrs. Freking moved to Bettendorf to be near her son. Children – A son and wife Mike and Marilyn Freking of Bettendorf and three grandchildren.

8. Cletus Adam Brunsman born Oct 8, 1910 Alton IA and died 16 Apr 1989 Cypress, CA
Cletus A. Brunsman, 78, of Cypress, Calif., died April 16 at his home of a short illness. He was born and raised in Alton. Survivors are his wife Elsie, a son Dennis Brunsman, a daughter Patty Simmerman; five grandchildren; one brother, Vernon Brunsman of Portland, Ore., and two sisters, Mrs. Linus Freking of Bettendorf and Sister M. Gilbert Brunsman of Monticello. The funeral Mass was Wednesday at St. Cyprian Church. Mrs. Ida Brunsman of Alton, Mrs. Gil De Goei and Mrs. Dixson Granstra of Sheldon, attended the funeral. Sioux County Capital, May 4, 1989

9. Rosine Mary Brunsman born Mar 9, 1913 Alton IA and died May 1980 Longmont CO. She married Wayne Hatton 26 Oct 1942 Clark WA. In the 1950 census Wayne F. Hatton 38 was living in Pender NE. His wife was Rosine 37 and they had two sons, David W. age 6 and Kenneth A. age 2. A report on ancestry.com lists Fremont Hatton born 29 Aug 1911 Sioux County IA died 23 Jun 1980 Longmont, CO. Wife Rosine Mary Brunsman born 9 Mar 1913 IA, died May 1980 Longmont CO. Children listed as private not deceased at the time.

10. Vernon Nicholas Brunsman born 17 Jul 1917 Alton IA and died Jun 20, 1996 Portland OR. Find A Grave lists Vernon Nicholas Brunsman born 17 Jul 1917 Alton IA died 20 Jun 1996 died Portland Multnomah, OR. Buried in Mount Calvery Cemetery Portland. His wife was Jane Marie Cuthill born 1908, married July 1950 died 2000. No children mentioned which is normal if they were not deceased yet.

OBITUARY of Joseph Brunsman 1869-1942
Alton Democrat of April 24, 1942 Jos. Brunsman Early Alton Resident, Dies. Came Here In 1881 Was Skilled Artisan.
Joseph Brunsmann, a resident of Alton for over sixty years, passed on at his home here Tuesday, April 21st, after a few days illness, having been taken critically ill with a heart attack Sunday. Funeral services will be held Friday morning at nice o’clock in the morning at St. Mary’s Church. He was born in Gembte, Westfalen, Germany, on June 4, 1869, and came to Sioux County with his father at the age of twelve, settling in Alton, where on Feb 11, 1896, he was married to Mary Koppert. Ten children were born to this union, of whom nine are living, namely, Mrs. Peter Wiltgen (Agnes) of Alton; Vincent of Lexington KY; Gilbert of Alton’ Mrs. D. J. Thill (Olivia) of Remsen; Sister Mary Gilbert (Lucinda) of Pocahontas; Mrs. Linus Freking (Clarinda) of Le Mars; Cletus of Alton; Rosine (R.N.) of Le Mars, and Vernon of Alton. He is also survived by his wife and by an only sister, Lidwinia, who has made her home with the family for the past twenty years.
A veteran decorator, Mr. Brunsmann was widely know as a skilled artisan and took great pride in turning out a good job. He stuck to his ladder and paint until failing health only within the last few years made it impossible for him to work. However, he remained erect and agile and seeing him even during the past few weeks no one unaware of his age would have thought he was nearly 73 years old. He recovered from several serious attacks of illness and liked to predict that he would live to be over a hundred. He will be missed by hundreds of friends who sympathize with his wife and children in their loss of a good husband and father.

OBITUARY of Mary Mrs. Joseph Brunsman 1878-1959
Source: Sioux County Capital (5-28-1959) Born: February 28, 1878 Died: May 14, 1959 Funeral services for Mary Brunsman, who died at the age of 81 Thursday, May 14, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Le Mars, were held in St. Mary’s Church at Alton May 16 at 10 A.M. , Monsignor Z. Raising officiated.
Mrs. Brunsman was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, who died April 23, 1942. Survivors include nine children: Agnes Wiltgen of Alton; Sylvia Thill of St. Cloud, Minnesota, Sister Mary Gilbert, O.S.F., Heeland High School, Sioux City, Clarinda Freking, Le Mars, Rosine Hatton, Longmont, Colorado, Vincent, Leavenworth, Kansas, Gilbert, Alton, Cletus, Lakewood, California, and Vernon, Portland, Oregon; 18 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Brunsman became ill about four days before her death. Mary Brunsman was born at New Vienna, Iowa, February 28, 1878, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Koppert. The family moved to Chatworth when Mary was a young a young girl . She came to Alton., about 65 years ago, and two years later she was married to Joe Brunsman on February 11, 1896. Mrs. Brunsman was a lifelong member of the Rosary Society and a member of the Alton Pinochle Club.
Pallbearers at the funeral were Leland Hill of South Sioux City, Nebraska, Joe Wiltgen of Waukee, Gene Wiltgen of Manchester, Carl Noltze of Sioux City, Micky Freking of Le Mars, and Dennis Brunsman of Lakewood, California.