Kalas, William 1842-1916

KALAS, ERHARDT

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/30/2024 at 22:45:03

Note: He is buried in Le Mars Memorial Cemetery.

DEATH OF WM. KALAS

Was an Early Settler in Perry Creek Valley

William Kalas, a pioneer resident of Plymouth county, died at his home on Clark street at nine o’clock on Wednesday morning.

Death was due to cancer of the stomach from which he had suffered for the past seven months. Last fall, while suffering from the malady, he went to Rochester, Minnesota to consult specialists and exploratory operation was made. The physicians pronounce his case hopeless and he returned home and resigned himself to his fate.

William Kalas was a native of Germany and was born at Pritznitz, Brandenburg, where he grew to manhood. He left his native country in 1862 and came to America and settled at Guttenberg, Iowa. At this place he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Erhardt in 1871. They came to Plymouth county the same year and settled on a farm on the Perry Creek, where they lived until 1965 when they left the work of the farm to the younger generation and came to Le Mars to enjoy a well earned rest, the fruits of the long years of honest toil.

To their union twelve children were born, three of whom are dead. With the widow nine children mourn his death. They are, Mrs. Emma Kaelke, Osakis, Minn., Rev. Henry Kalas, Center Point, Iowa, Mrs. Mary Eberhard, Hinton, Mrs. Ellen Wetzel, Ackley, John Kala Sioux City, William and Otto Kalas, Merrill, Mrs. Esther Zimmerman, LeMars. He is also survived by a brother and sister in Germany, a sister living at Luverne, Minn. and a sister, Mrs. Henry Bock, of LeMars.

Mr. Kalas was a member of the Perry Creek United Evangelical church for many years. Of late years he affiliated with the German Methodist church in this city.

The funeral will be held this afternoon at one o’clock at the late home and at 1:30 o’clock at the German Methodist church, Rev. F. H. Thiel, officiating.

Mr. Kalas was a loving husband and father, and a good neighbor and enjoyed the respect of the community where he lived for forty-five years.

Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Friday, May 5, 1916
Lemars, Iowa