Obituary     

Gerhard Henrich Boes 1837-1915

The Breda News, February 25, 1915

DEATH CLAIMS GERHARD BOES

Succumbs After an Illness of Two Years Duration. Funeral was Largely Attended.

RESIDED HERE MANY YEARS

Gerhard Boes, an aged and respected citizen of Breda passed away at his home Thursday, February 18, at 4:50 o'clock, after an illness which covered a period of about two years. The cause of his death was a complication of stomach troubles combined with old age. All his children with the exception of one daughter were at his bedside when the end came. During the last couple of weeks his condition grew steadily worse and it could be plainly seen that his time on this earth was very short.

Gerhard Boes was born at Ramsdorf, Westphelia [sic], Germany, and September 20, 1837. He served in the war of Germany and Denmark in the year 1864 and also in the war of Austria and Baveria [sic] in 1866. In the year 1867 he emigrated to this country and located at Dyersville, where in 1870 he was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Nieland. In 1874 they moved to a farm in Sac county where they resided until 1900, when they moved to a farm just west of Breda, where they resided until the year 1913, then they moved to Breda where they resided until his death. [We believe they lived in the house in Breda later purchased by Anna's brother, Henry Nieland.]

Nine children were born to their union of whom eight still survive him with his wife. The surviving children are: John, Theodore, and Joseph who reside near Breda; Elizabeth, now Mrs. B. Steinkamp, residing northwest of town; Dora, now Mrs. Henry Mueggenburg, of Okarche, Okla.; Clara, now Mrs. M.J. Reising, of near here; Katherine now Mrs. Leo Schulte, residing near here; and Miss Ida, who resides at home. One son, Henry, having preceded him in death.

Deceased was a hardworking and industrious man through which he succeeded in acquiring a fair share of the world's goods. He was a kind father and a devoted husband and will be greatly missed by those who were so dear to him.

The funeral services where held Saturday morning at nine o'clock and were attended by a large number who came to pay their last respects to a kind friend and citizen, and the remains were laid to rest in St. Bernard's cemetery.

The pall bearers were: Ben Brinker, L. Woerdehoff, Joe Riedmiller, Wm. Ricke, Henry Snyder and Ben Tacke. [These were all neighbors in Breda.]

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