BERTHA (Gall) BUCHWALD

The Sterling Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois

October 31, 1935 - Thursday, pg 6

BERTHA (Gall) BUCHWALD

Bertha Gall was the fourth child born to Ernest Frank and Frederika Gall on April 28, 1865 at Kieso-Pommerin, Germany. In her infancy, pious parents brought her to be baptized into the name of the Triune God. Enjoying a normal childhood and good Christian training she renewed her baptismal April 20, 1879.

Later during which she had gained experience by working in rural homes, she embarked for America in 1883. With her relatives she came directly to Wyanet at which place she was united in holy matrimony by Pastor G. Fritshel on December 4, 1887, to August Buchwald. After nine years of labor they moved to Thomas and in 1903 to their present home in Prophetstown. The deceased was a faithful attendant at the Lutheran church and for 14 years was chairman of the Ladies Aid Society.

Last winter she was taken seriously ill and for days and weeks hovered between life and death. By the help of God she recovered sufficiently to begin again with her accustomed work. Every day seemed to bring improvement in her condition until her sudden death October 23 of heart failure. She had reached the age of 70 years, five months and 25 days. Thus ended a life rich in experience begun and ended to the glory of God. Her death is a distinct loss to the family circle, to the church and her friends.

Mrs. Buchwald leaves to mourn her deeply grieved husband and children: William, Prophetstown; Mrs. Emma McBride, Rock Falls; Minnie, at home; John, Pasadena, Calif; Edward, Prophetstown; Carl, Rock Falls; Mrs. Freida Hollquist, Prophetstown; Herman Buchwald, Prophetstown and Mrs. Arvilla Wheelock, Tampico. She also leaves eight grandchildren. Three children preceded her in death: Fred in 1892; Lena in 1897 and August in 1919. She was the last of her family, two brothers and two sisters having gone before.

Funeral srvices were held Sunday, October 27 from the late home in Prophetstown and the Yorktown Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Wilhelm Streng officiating. Interment was made in the Yorktown Cemetery. Pallbearers were six nephews: Arthur Frank, Sterling; Carl Frank, Chicago; Will Frank, Fred Frank and William Strike, Tampico, and Ben Kerber, Prophetstown.

There were many beautiful flowers paying silent tribute to the memory of the deceased and many attended from out of town.

--Contributed by Melva L. Taylor