Weis, John 1864-1946 & Anna Wagner Family

WEIS, WAGNER, SULAK, THOMA

Posted By: Wilma J. VandeBerg (email)
Date: 8/9/2024 at 07:33:18

Weis, John 1864-1946 and Anna Wagner Family

This family story was taken from the Alton St. Mary’s Catholic Church Book 1883-1983 page 225. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes have been added.

John Weis was born in 1864 and his wife Anna was born Dec 25, 1870.

John and Anna ran ‘The Square Deal’ Restaurant in Alton for many years. Their children all attended St. Mary’s Academy. One daughter, Irene was a talented musician being St. Mary’s organist. After her marriage she was organist at the Merrill church where she lived. Her son (in law) Rev. Gerald Zensen of Oto, Iowa, is also a good musician, he plays in the Sioux City Symphony.

The Weis’ had four children, Irene, Mrs. R J. Zensen of Merrill, Cyril of Minneapolis; Gerald of Cherokee, Iowa; and Harold, also of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The three Weis boys started out as lino typists at the Alton Democrat office and continued in that profession.

John died in 1946 and Anna died on May 12, 1963, Irene and Cyril are also deceased. (as of 1983)
(end of story in St. Mary’s church book)

RESEARCH Notes: From a family history report on ancestry.com submitted by other than this submitter. Obituaries from this web page.

John M. Weis was born Oct 1865 at Bellevue Jackson County IA. Died 1941(1946) His parents were Bernard Weis 1833-1913 and Marie Lena Thoma 1836-1936. He married Anna Florence Wagner 29 Aug 1893 at Bellevue, IA.

Anna Florence Wagner was born 24 Sep 1872(1870) Jackson Co. IA died 1961(1963) Her parents were Jacob H. Wagner Sr. 1839-1906 and Anna Florence Sulak 1844-1930. John and Anna had the following children:

CHILDREN: Four lived to be adults and two died in infancy

1. Irene Helen Weis born 10 Jan 1898 Merrill IA died Oct 1963 Merrill IA. She married Reinhold ‘Ray’ Joseph Zensen 1886-1962 They had three children: on being Gerald Francis Zensen 1924-2015

2. Laura Weis born Jul 1899 IA died as infant.

3. Cyril Nicholas Weis born 8 Dec 1901 Alton IA died about 27 Nov 1978 St Paul MN. He married Gladys Loretta Langhout. Child listed Marilyn Faye Anderson. ‘Find A. Grave’

4. Gerald Weis born 27 Jun 1907 Alton IA died 31 Mar 1996. He married Jeanette Gebauer of Alton on November 25, 1929 They had  two daughters and their husbands, Darlene and Robert Fee of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Linda and James McCutcheon of Alton; See the obit of Gerald Weis on this web page.

5. Harold Leo Weis born 22 Apr 1910 Alton IA died 7 Oct 1981 Hennepin Co. MN. Wife Lena G. born 1906. One child named Sharon Ruth Weis 1938.

OBITUARY of John Weis 1864-1946
Source: Alton Democrat (3-14-1946) Born: October 7, 1864 Died: 1946
Was town Assessor of Alton for 20 years: John M. Weis, well known Alton business man and citizen for nearly half a century, died at his home last Friday afternoon at 4:15 o’clock, at the age of 81 years, 5 months and one day.
Mr. Weis was born at Bellevue, Iowa, October 7, 1864. He married Anna Wagner. He attended Illinois Normal College at Dixon, Illinois and after completing his course he accepted a position as principal of the Merrill, Iowa schools which he held for four years. In 1895 he took a business course, then moved to Alton where he went into business. In later years he conducted a store in the present Bakery Building and retired eight years ago.
He lived in Alton 43 years and was in business here for 10 years. Mr. Weis was intensely interested in civic affairs and took an active part in every movement which had the improvement of the community as its aim. He was town assessor for 20 years. Everyone knew him and he knew practically everyone in Alton and vicinity.
Mr. Weis called on his neighbor, Peter Leenhouts who has been confined to his home with illness for many months, only a few days before he was stricken and had a word of cheer for him. Four days later John was gone from this world but is held in kind memory by a host of friends.
Survivors are his widow and four children, Mrs. R.J. Zensen of Merrill, Iowa, Cyril, Cambridge, Minnesota; Gerald, Paullina, Iowa; and Harold, Minneapolis. There are eight grandchildren and two sisters and two brothers; Margaret Mrs. Barretta of Waterloo, Katie (Mrs. P.H. Vander Wicken, Milford, Iowa, Jake and Peter Weis, Struble, Iowa. Two children preceded him in death infancy Note: 1925 (Iowa census states his parents were Bernard Weis and Lena Thoma).

OBITIARY of Anna Mrs. John Weis
Alton Democrat of May 16, 1963.
Mrs. Anna Weis of Sioux City Passes;
Last Rites Here Mrs. Anna Weis, long time resident of Alton, passed away May 12 at the Jennings Nursing Home in Sioux City at the age of 92 years. 5 months. She had been ill the past three weeks and in failing health during the past six months.
Mrs. Weis was born at Bellevue, Iowa, on December 25, 1870. For many years she and Mr. Weis conducted a restaurant business at Alton and the children were born at Alton. She was practically a lifelong resident here.
Three sons and one daughter survive their mother, as follows: Gerald, Drexel Hill, Pa:; Cyril, St. Paul, Minn.; Harold, Phoenix, Ariz., and Mrs. Irene Zensen, Merrill, Iowa. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.