Christine (Born) Baldus (1849-1925)

BORN, BALDUS, WIRTH, RICKERL, COPPERMAN, KAPPELMAN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/31/2024 at 22:36:30

From Story City Herald April 23, 1925 (page 3)

OBITUARY
Mrs. Christine Baldus

Christine Baldus, a pioneer resident of Story County, has gone home to her eternal reward. She died at the home of her son, Walter Baldus, April 14, 1926, after a brief illness of 12 days of pneumonia and other complications, aged 75 years.

Funeral services were held on Thursday morning, April 16, in St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church, Rev. D. A. Gorman officiating at Requiem High Mass. Subject of his sermon was: "Preparation during life for death and a mother's love." A large number of relatives and friends followed her to her last resting place in St. Peter and Paul's cemetery.

Christine Born, daughter of Jacob and Julia Born, was born on May 20, 1849, and was married to Theodore Baldus on October 14, 1866. To them were born 12 children, six of whom survive her, namely: John, Walter, Carl and Leo, Mrs. Peter Wirth and Mrs. Frank Rickerl. The other six children died in childhood.

Her husband preceded her in death two years ago. She also leaves fifty grand children and eight great grandchildren; also one brother, John Born of Boone and one sister, Julia Copperman [also known as Kappelman] of Crocker, Iowa.

Mrs. Baldus had a great love for small children so shortly after her marriage to Mr. Baldus they decided to take in and care for two orphan children, Lew and T. F. Baldus, who remained with them until they grew to manhood. After having reared their own large family her love for children remained ever the same ad they sent from a little girl from New York Orphanage, who is at present attending the Immaculate Conception Academy in Dubuque.

Grandma Baldus or aunt Tena as she was known to all, was a model wife, mother and homemaker, suffering in patience the hardships and trial of an early pioneer life. One of the great works of her life was her kind sympathy to suffering humanity. Where was there someone sick that Grandma Baldus was not there to help care for the sick and otherwise help with the work.

Many a mother will fondly cherish the memory of her smiling countenance, her kind words of sympathy and most of all her help in sickness and trials.

Even after her health and strength no longer permitted her to do strenuous work, she was ever ready and willing to do whatever she could to aid the sick.

She had spent the winter at the home of her son, Walter, where although she ha loving care, nevertheless she had a natural longing for home, the place where she with husband had spent the last few years of their lives so happily together.

A few days before she became sick preparations were being made for her to go to housekeeping again. Here again she manifested her sympathy for others, as she had such a great longing to return home, but she wished to remain with Walter's family until he returned home from Rochester, where he underwent an operation.

While she was planning on going home our Heavenly Father saw fit to take her to eternal home, and in this. She did not go unprepared. Not only did she prepare the last few years of days but through life she tried to lead a good, honest, Christian life, do that when the Master called she would be prepared to meet Him.

May her soul rest in peace.