Ila Leah "Leah" (Elliott) Honeck (1894-1929)

ELLIOTT, HONECK

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:14

From Collins Gazette July 11, 1929

It was with profound sorrow that Collins people last Friday received the almost incredible news of the death of Mrs. George G. Honeck, which occurred on Thursday, July 4, in the hospital at Frederic, Wis., after a week's illness of acute sleeping sickness. Only four weeks before she became ill, she and her father, Frank Elliott, left Collins for an outing trip and visit with relatives at Milltown and other Wisconsin points.

When she first became ill, no alarm was felt, it being thought to be merely a cold, bu when head pains persisted, the physician asked that she be taken to the hospital where she could be more closely observed. However, all that medical skill and tender care could do were of no avail against the dread disease.

The remains arrived in Collins on Monday morning, accompanied by the husband and father, and funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Collins Methodist church, which was filled to capacity with sorrowing relatives and friends, many relatives being present from different parts of Iowa, as well as from other states.

The Rev. G. H. Varce, pastor of the United Brethren church delivered an unusually appropriate sermon, and one which was extremely comforting to the bereaved ones.

A quartet composed of Mrs. O. N. Serbein, Mrs. A. L. Pitcher, J. R. Witmer and J. G. Gingles sang those beautiful hymns: "Face to Face," "The Upper Garden," and "The Nearer the Sweeter."

Floral offerings were beautiful and profuse, the flower girls being members of the 4-H club: Velma Pitcher and Hilda Witmer.

Pallbearers were chosen from the ranks of World war veterans and former classmates. They were: A. F. Heinrich, R. D. McCord, Chas. Carr, H. C. Westcott, Dewey Kern and L. D. Holland.

Services at Evergreen cemetery were in charge of Collins Chapter No 134, O. E. S., of which Mrs. Honeck was an active member.

Ila Leah Elliott, only child of Frank and Mary Elliott, was born on June 7, 1894, on the farm southeast of Collins, and departed this life at Frederic, Wis., on Thursday, July 4, 1929, aged 35 years and 27 days.

Leah was born on the Z. Elliott farm, in the same house in which her father was born. When she was about a year old, her parents moved to the farm east of town where she spent her entire life with the exception of two years when her parents lived in Collins.

At the age of 14, she joined the United Brethren church, retaining her membership throughout her life. She attended school in Collins and summer school at Cedar Falls and Highland Park college, Des Moines, teaching school for ten years in this vicinity--two years in Collins High School.

She was united in marriage with George G. Honeck on March 15, 1922 at Nevada, Ia., the couple making their home on the farm of her father where Leah had grown to womanhood.

Her mother having passed away on June 12, 1923, Mrs. Honeck's only surviving near relatives are her husband and her father, but she is mourned by many more distant relatives and a wide circle of friends.

Her husband was compelled, on account of lung trouble contracted while in the service of his country in the World war, to leave home in June 1928, and the enter the U. S. Veteran's hospital at Fort Lyons, Colorado, and in the spring of the present year Mrs. Honeck moved to Collins to make her home. At the time of her death, arrangements were being made for her to join her husband in a home in Colorado within a few weeks.

The message telling of her death reached Mr. Honeck at the hospital at 8 o'clock Thursday morning, and at 9:15 he boarded a train for Wisconsin arriving there Saturday noon.

Mrs. Honeck was a member of Collins Chapter No. 134, Order of the Eastern Star, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and of the Priscilla club of Collins. She was the organizer of the 4-H club girls in Collins township and was their first leader, continuing this work until her husband went to the hospital. She also was an active worker in the womans department of the Farm Bureau.

She was always ready and willing to be of help in any worthy community enterprise, was of a cheerful, sunny disposition, and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her.

The heartfelt sympathy of the community is extended to the sorrowing husband and father in their great bereavement.