Mary Margaret (Ritter) Rigler 1842-1902

RITTER, RIGLER, KING, MITCHELL, RADESTOCK, WARD, PICKARD, MILLER, CACKLEY

Posted By: Volunteer - Karen DaPra
Date: 2/16/2002 at 00:54:16

AT REST.

Mary Margaret Ritter was born at Ca[one letter can't be deciphered]sel, Bavaria, Germany, on Feb. 14th, 1842, and died at her home two and onehalf miles west of Bonaparte, Iowa, on Monday morning March 24, 1902, being sixty years one month and ten days old.

She came to America with her parents arriving at Farmington, Iowa, in the month of July 1860. On September 30th of the same year, she was married, at Farmington, to Fredric G. Rigler, and from which place they came to their present home. To this union was born six children: August, who died March 25th, 1876, Max of Valdez, Alaska, Mrs. Rosa King, who resides a few miles from the paternal home, Anna M., Charles and George who are still at home. Besides the five children there are left to mourn her untimely departure her husband, one brother, one sister and two grand children besides a large circle of sympathizing friends.

Mrs. Rigler was a member of the Roman Cotholic [sic] church and lived a devoted Christian life, always ready to do for others, always wanting to make others happy. Nothing ever being too much trouble for her willing hands to do.

Her sickness was only of about 40 hours duration and the news of her death was a great skock [sic] to all her friends and neighbors.

"The pang--
The cruel pang, the never-ceasing pang
That turns the sweets of life to bitterness,
All zephyrs unto tempests, and each breeze
That pits rebellious life against itself.
When the strong cord, the golden love-charged cord,
That holds a wife and mother to her own,
Severs and falls in ruins at our feet,
And mocks us with brightness 'mid the dust,
There is no loss, except the loss of heaven,
Like that which fills a wife and mother's shroud;
There is no love except the love of God,
Like that which fill a wife and mother's heart."

The funeral services were held at the family residence at 10 o'clock a.m. on Wednesday the 26, by Father Daly of Farmington. Interrment [sic] at the Bonaparte Cemetery.

Many and beautiful were the florial [sic] offerings by friends of the deceased, presented as tokens of love and esteem for the dead.

The pall bearers were: Benj. Mitchell, Frederick Radestock, Albert F. Ward, Chas. Pickard, George Miller and Walter Cackley.

(Photocopy of this obit is located on page 10 of Obit Book C found in the Van Buren County, IA Genealogical Society's collection at the Keosauqua Public Library in July 1999. Name of newspaper and date of obit not given.)

Add'l. Source: Entler Scrapbooks, vol. 4, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA

I am NOT related to Mrs. Mary Margaret (Ritter) Rigler and am posting this obit for those who may find her in their family history.

(originally posted 18 Aug 1999)