Wagner, Mathilda (Mrs. Andrew), 1885-1935

WAGNER, KURTENACKER, MARX

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

From the Alton Democrat, September 27, 1935:

SERVICES AT RALPH FOR MRS. A. WAGNER

Mrs. Andrew Wagner, of the pioneer Kurtenacker family, who passed on at Ralph, S.D., was laid to rest on Saturday Sept. 14, with impressive services in the St. Eulalia prairie church.

Mathilda Kurtenacker was born at Alton. In 1914 she was married to Andrew Wagner and the couple went to western South Dakota where they were pioneer settlers in that ranching community, with the nearest railroad still over thirty miles distant. Although she had not been in good health for some time, her death came as a shock to family and friends.

Her two sisters here, Misses Margaret and Helen Kurtenacker, Mrs. Nick Krier and two sons of Highmore, S.D., and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Even of Humboldt all attended the services. Her brother, Joe Kurtenacker of Albuquerque, N.M., was not able to be present. Others present from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Pete Wagner, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Daina of Sturges, S.D.; Mrs. Nick Wagner and two sons from Washington, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Allen and Allen Niemeyer of Faulkton, S.D.

A remarkable feature of the services in the little church and a beautiful indication of piety and faith was that members of Mrs. Wagner’s family assisted the pastor, Rev. Vincent Carty, in the requiem high mass. Miss Annette, 20-year old daughter, played the organ, Mr. Wagner sang the responses and the four older sons served the mass. Pallbearers were nephews. After the mass, Rev. Carty gave the funeral sermon, speaking of Mrs. Wagner’s great faith and devotion to duty. A resident of the Wagner home, he could speak full knowledge of her many splendid qualities.

The five sons are Joe, Donald, Louis, Andrew jr., and Tom, the last eight years old.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The South Dakota Death Index on Ancestry.com gives her death date as 11 Sep 1935, Harding, South Dakota.

Her FindaGrave.com page gives her life dates as 1885-1935; buried in Saint Eulalia Cemetery, Harding County, S.D. Spouse Andrew Wagner (1884-1960). Four children are listed: Annette M. Wagner Kusler (1915-1992), Joseph Andrew Wagner (1918-1997), Donald Nicholas Wagner (1919-2007), and Thomas Paul Wagner (1927-1998).

The Sioux County marriage register for 1913/1914 lists groom Andrew Wagner, age 31, resident of Ralph, S.D., a farmer, of German ancestry, born in Sioux County, parents Peter Wagner and Mary Ludowece; bride Mathilda Kurtenacker, age 30, resident of Alton, of German ancestry, born in Sioux County, parents William Kurtenacker and Magdalena Marx; married in Alton, June 22, 1914.