Eilers, Gerhard John - 1880-1958

EILERS, FRERICHS

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/15/2011 at 16:07:29

Funeral services were held for Gerhard J. Eilers, Monday afternoon in Trinity Lutheran Church, Rev. O. F. Pittack officiating. The commital was made in Grace Hill cemetery with the Barnard Funeral Home in charge.

Gerhard John Eilers, one of 13 children born to Fredrich & Maria Eilers, was born on August 8, 1880, at Harvel, IL, where he also became a member of the Lutheran Church through baptism in early infancy.

He left Illinois as a young man and came to LeMars, where on May 22, 1901, he married Gertrude Frerichs. To this union seven children were born. In addition he and his wife fostered two of their grandchildren who became orphaned at the accidental death of their parents in 1940.

Mr. Eilers resided on a farm in Plymouth county until 1915 when he moved to a farm three miles southeast of Hawarden. In August, 1945, he retired from farming and moved to Hawarden. In 1951 he and his wife observed their golden wedding anniversary in the presence of many relatives and friends.

During the past six months he had been failing in health and several weeks ago he entered the local hospital to submit to an operation. He died Friday morning.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, who died on May 18, 1956; four children, Fred at age 3, George at 6 months, Edna at 4 months, and Ernest in 1940 and 10 brothers and sisters.

Survivors include two sons, Clarence and Earl; and one daughter, Mrs. Luella Wilkison, all of Hawarden; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother Ed, and a sister, Mrs. Marie Baack.

Hawarden Independent, March 6, 1958