Gacke, John A., 1891-1926

GACKE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:33

From the Alton Democrat, February 12, 1926, Rock Valley news:

JOHN GACKE; FORMER SIOUX COUNTY MAN
Death of Mayor’s Brother

John Gacke, a former Rock Valley resident and son of Mrs. Lena Gacke, passed away January 27 in the St. Cloud hospital at St. Cloud, Minn. He leaves to mourn, his mother, a brother, Will, of Hospers; several sisters, Mrs. Frank Greiner, Mrs. A. T. Hemmingson, Mrs. Alfred Jade and two others, his widow and four children. Frank Greiner departed Thursday to attend the funeral services held Saturday.

Mr. Gacke was a splendid young man. A brother died not long since. The Gacke family are members of St. Mary’s church at Rock Valley and are remembered here by a large circle of sympathizing neighbors and friends. Sam Splear of Genesee, Ill., also attended the funeral of his nephew.

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RESEARCH NOTES

No obituary was found in the Rock Valley Bee.

The Minnesota Death Certificates Index has John A. Gacke, died January 27, 1926 in Stearns County. Certificate no. 1926-MN-014887.

FindaGrave.com has John A. Gacke; born Aug. 18, 1891 in Iowa; died Jan. 27, 1926 in Stearns County, Minn; non-cemetery burial. No spouse is listed, but two children are: Roman Joseph Gacke (1919-2003) and Richard Louis Gacke (1922-1997).

The 1920 U.S. census for St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota (January 9, 1920) has John A. Gacke, age 28, born in Iowa, father born Wisconsin, mother born Holland, a grocery store salesman; wife Katherine, age 30, born in Minnesota of German parents; daughter Luverne (3-6/12), born Minnesota; and son Roman (4/12), born Minnesota.

The 1910 U.S. census shows him at age 18 living in St. Cloud with his parents Henry J. and Lena C. Gacke and seven younger siblings. He is a retail grocery salesman and his father is a house carpenter. (Henry, Lena, and most of the family had returned to Rock Valley by the time of Henry’s death in 1914 – see Henry’s and Lena’s obituaries, posted separately, for more family information).

His World War I draft registration card (June 1917) shows him as John Adolf Gacke; born 18 Aug. 1891 in Rock Valley, Iowa; resident of St. Cloud; a grocery clerk, employer F. Enderle[?] Co.; married but apparently with no children; tall, slender, brown hair, blue eyes.