Goebel, Elizabeth (Mrs. Peter) 1866-1944

GOEBEL, LAMPE

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke--Volunteer
Date: 1/22/2017 at 20:45:41

Source: Alton Democrat (1-13-1944)

Born: February 16, 1866
Died: January 7, 1944

The sudden death of Mrs. Peter Goebel, widow of Alton’s long-time mayor, during the early hours of Friday morning, January 7th, was a great shock to the community as well as to her family.

Mrs. Goebel and the two other members of her household, Miss Viola Mae and Maris James had suffered an attack of ptomaine poising Tuesday night and were under medical care. The mother, however, was less violently affected then the others and was resting quietly with no cause for alarm Thursday night. But when her son went into her bedroom the next morning he found that her heart had stopped beating. She had passed peacefully away, probably in her sleep.

Elizabeth Lampe was born at Bellevue, Iowa, February 16, 1866 and had nearly reached her 78th birthday. At the age of 19 she came to Alton to visit her sister, Mrs. J.F. Kamber, whose husband was proprietor of as early photograph gallery here. In the hospitable Kamber home, young people often gathered and among them was Miss Lampe’s future husband, Peter Goebel. It apparently was a case of love at first sight. The young man had made all plans and long before meeting the Bellevue girl, to study for the priesthood, had his bags packed to leave for the seminary, had even said goodbye to his friends when something made him change his mind.

When Miss Lampe returned to Bellevue the two were engaged and she had agreed to join the church of her fiancé. From her farm home she rode horseback to “take instruction” at a small Roman Catholic Church at Spruce Creek, where after some months she was baptized. They were married October 27, 1885 in Alton at St. Mary’s Church by the Reverend Luehrsman, early pastor here. They started housekeeping at their present home on Third Avenue, but at that time the house had but a few rooms. Two years later it was enlarged and remodeled. Mr. Goebel bought lots on all sides of his home, planting the trees that ornament the large lawn and garden.

Seven children were born to the union, of whom two have passed on. Surviving are Louis T. of Alton, Edward H. of Denison, Viola Mae of Alton, Stelia of Danbury and Maris J. of Alton. On August 28, 1932, the husband and father suddenly passed on and in October of the same year their youngest daughter, Florence, Mrs. A.J. Riedmuller of Danbury died at a Sioux City hospital. In March, 1934, their third oldest son, Elmer of Sioux City, died after months of illness.

Mrs. Goebel is survived by one sister, Mrs. John Kegler of Cedar Rapids and one brother, John Lampe of Bellevue; and by eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Goebel was one of the first members of St. Mary’s Rosary Society and was a faithful member of her adopted Church. She was an unselfish mother, devoted to her home, a lover of flowers and skillful in their care, always a kind neighbor and friend, with a friendly word for every passer-by as she sat on her porch of a summer evening.

Funeral services were held Monday morning at St. Mary’s Church, in charge of the pastor, Reverend Neppel, with interment in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Pallbearers were fellow members of Legionnaire M.J. Goebel of Floyd Post, namely Hugo Jochium , D.T. Hormefer, O.S. Henrich, John Schmidt, Albert Schnee and Carl Haag.

During the first World War Mrs. Goebel knit hundreds of pairs of socks and other garments for the boys in the Army and was among the “Top” knitters of the community. She has three grandsons in our country’s service at present, one of whom, Pfc. Maris Riedmiller of Bergstrom Field, Austin, Texas, flew to Kansas City and arrived here by train for the service. Others present included Mr. and Mrs. Ed Goebel, Jean and Kenneth of Denison, Al Riemiller and daughter, Beverly and Miss Steila Goebel of Danbury, Mr. and Mrs. John Gobel, Mrs. Anna Goebel, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Klein, cousins of Mr. Goebel living at Granville; besides a host of friends from Alton and neighboring towns, Mrs. Elmer Goebel and daughters of Des Moines were unable to come, the former having been sent to a hospital with an arm infection.