Pluss, Bertha (Mrs. John) 1865-1948

PLUSS, HUNZICKER

Posted By: Janet Brown - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/3/2013 at 10:50:35

From the Thursday, April 22, 1948 Hawarden Independent:

Pluss Services Conducted Here

Final Rites Held Sunday for 83 Year Old Woman Who Died at Home of Daughter in Hawarden

Funeral services for Mrs. Bertha Pluss, 83, who died last Friday morning in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fay Houlton, were held Sunday afternoon. Brief services were held at the Barnard funeral home and services were then held at St. Paul's Lutheran church in Ireton. Rev. H. W. Krieger was in charge. Burial was at Ireton.

Bertha Hunzicker was born In Kirkleerau, Switzerland, in 1865. She became an orphan at an early age and made her home with her grandmother several years. She married John Rudolf Pluss at the age of 24. To this union were born four children, one passing away in Switzerland and Rudolf died at the age of 18.

In 1902 the family came to the United States, locating at Ireton, where she lived until five years ago when she came to Hawarden to live with her daughter.

Survivors are two children, Mrs. Houlton of Hawarden, and Fred Pluss of Sioux Falls, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church of Ireton.

Poster's note: According to "Ireton, A Proud Heritage, 1882-1982", Bertha was Johann Rudolf Pluss' 2nd wife. Johann and his first wife, the former Elise Hackstrauss, had at least two children: Elise (who married J.A. Lindenman and died at Ireton on February 21, 1905) and Emil (the book does not mention what became of Emil).

Bertha and Johann (John) were the parents of Bertha, b. Oct. 17, 1890 and died in infancy in Switzerland; Friederich (Fred) born March 28, 1892; Johann Rudolf (Rudolf) born July 11, 1894; and Bertha born August 11, 1898 (later Mrs. Fay Houlton mentioned above).

Bertha's husband died November 25, 1931 and is buried in Pleasant Hill cemetery in Ireton.

The 1925 census shows Bertha's mother's maiden name as Mary Mithwell or Muthwell but it is somewhat illegible.