Gaul, Sylvia E. (Mrs. John Peter), 1896-1940

GAUL, FISCHBACH, NEMMERS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/10/2022 at 07:53:01

From the Alton Democrat, February 2, 1940:

Mrs. Peter Gaul Passes On After Brief Illness

Mrs. Peter Gaul of Granville passed on after a week’s illness Tuesday night, Jan. 30, at the age of 43 years. The family have the sympathy of the community in her untimely passing. Funeral services will be held at St. Joseph’s church, Granville, on Saturday.

Daughter of early settlers in the county, Sylvia Fischbach Gaul is survived by her husband and ten children: Gertrude, Verna, Joan, Ruth, Mark, Marjorie, Eleanor, Rosemary, Clara and Joseph; by her mother, Mrs. Anna Fischbach, and four sisters: Mrs. Geo. Schmitz, Los Angeles; Mrs. Andrew Schwebach, Dell Rapids; Sister M. Francisco, Sugar Creek, Iowa; and Postmistress Rose Fischbach of Granville. She had lived all her life in the Granville vicinity and was married to Mr. Gaul on Nov. 15, 1921.

She was a faithful member of the Christian Mother’s society and American Legion Auxiliary.

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From the Sioux County Capital, February 1, 1940:

Mrs. Peter Gaul Dies Tuesday

Mrs. Peter Gaul of Granville died in a local hospital Tuesday evening at 10 o’clock from a short illness of pneumonia. She had entered for treatment Monday evening. However, from the beginning her illness was serious as she had given birth to a still born child about a week ago. Mrs. Gaul, who was about 40 years old, leaves 10 children, the oldest 16 years.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Gaul, Sylvia E., born 6 Dec 1896, died 30 Jan 1940, St. Josephs Cemetery, Granville, IA. [The entry for her husband is Gaul, J. Peter, born 20 Nov 1891, died abt. 13 May 1982, wife Silvia Fischbach, St. Josephs Granville (GSCGS). His obituary (posted separately) shows him having remarried to Maria A. Arens in 1942.]

Her death certificate (informant Rose M. Fischbach) has Sylvia Elizabeth Gaul; born Dec. 6, 1896 in LeMars; parents John Peter Fischbach, born in Bissen, Luxembourg, and Anna Nemmers, born in Springbrook, Iowa; husband John Peter Gaul; died in the De Bey Hospital, Orange City, where she had been for 1 day, at 10 P.M. January 30, 1940; cause, lobar pneumonia, Stiefts [illegible] type, duration 4 days; other conditions, premature birth on Jan. 24, 1940.

Her FindaGrave.com page has her as Sylvia E. Fischbach Gaul and adds her parents’ dates, John Peter Fischbach (1862-1924) and Anna Nemmers Fischbach (1868-1948); spouse John Peter Gaul (1891-1982). Six siblings and four of her children are listed.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1921/1922 has groom John P. Gaul, age 29, resident of Granville, a mail carrier, born in Alton, parents Peter Gaul and Catherine Delperdang; bride Sylvia Fishbach[sic], age 25, resident of Granville, race “dark,” born in Le Mars, Iowa, father John Fischbach, mother’s name not given (instead, it says “Granville, Iowa”); married in Granville November 15, 1921. [n.b., the census entries for her all give her race as white.]