The Lutheran Witness, the official paper of the Evangelical Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other states, was published biweekly by Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri. Following are the obituaries not previously included in the published indexes for Volume XLVII, No. 1-10, published in 1928, CR-1.
Obituary of Professor Frederick Strieter (No. 2, page 29)
Again the angel of death has visited one
of our synodical institutions and taken from us a faithful servant of God and
an instructor of students who are preparing for service in the Christian
day-school – Professor Frederick Strieter, who died December 15, 1927, in
Davenport, Iowa.
Frederick Strieter was born December 26,
1854, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the
oldest son of the Rev. John Strieter and his wife Elizabeth. The atmosphere of the home of his childhood
was not only Christian, but one permeated with the love for missions. This same have dwelt in the heart of the
deceased, and he prayed and labored for this cause and dedicated two children
to it. During his early childhood his
parents moved to the mission-fields of Northern Wisconsin. In those rugged surroundings he spent his
boyhood. Being a gifted boy, it was but
natural that his parents should plan to dedicate him to the service of the
Lord. At the age of fifteen he
matriculated at Concordia College, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and was graduated in
1876. He accepted a call as teacher from
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Dubuque, Iowa.
In 1880 he accepted a call to Akron, Ohio, where he served four
years. From 1884 to 1897 he served in
the Lutheran school at Frankenmuth, Michigan, and from 1897 to 1903 in
Cleveland, Ohio. In 1903 an urgent call
was sent him from Concordia Teachers’ College at Seward, Nebraska. He accepted it and served this institution
for twenty-four years. The talents which
the Lord had given him he put to good use.
He was blessed with a keen mind, and this he developed by intensive
reading and study. What the Lord had
given to him he imparted to the many students under his care. It was his privilege to see a school of thirty
students increase to 300. He enjoyed
comparing the primitive conditions of twenty-four years ago with the finely
equipped school of to-day, and he humbly thanked God that he had been granted a
share in its growth. To the members of
the faculty he was a loyal colleague and a fearless adviser. The whole community respected and honored
him.
In 1877, while teaching at Dubuque, he
married Lucy Zumhof, who died eight years later. In 1886 he married Marie Schick. The Lord blessed Professor Strieter with
eleven children, seven sons and four daughters.
All are living and mourn his passing.
Besides his bereaved widow, Marie Schick Strieter, he leaves twenty-four
grandchildren, three brothers, and four sisters. After a long life free from all illness, it
pleased God to afflict the deceased with a painful infirmity, which he bore
with great patience and fortitude. On
December 15, 1927, he died as one of whom we can say: “Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord.” His burial took place
on December 17 in the Lutheran cemetery of Rock Island, Illinois. Prof. Aug. Schuelke preached a German sermon
on Matt. 6, 18. Pastor Harms of
Davenport addressed the mourners in English, and Pastor Wilhelm of Rock Island
officiated at the grave.
We thank our heavenly Father for having given us loyal servants of the Word and for the good which He accomplished through our deceased brother. May He comfort the bereaved family and friends! Seward, Nebraska; Henry A. Koenig.
Obituary of John Christian Bunsold (No. 2, page 30)
On December 10, 1927, Mr. John Christian
Bunsold fell asleep in Jesus after a long illness. He was born in Marysville, Ohio, June 7,
1887. In the fall of 1902 he entered our
Teachers’ Seminary at Addison, Illinois, where he was graduated in 1907. The first seven years after his graduation he
was a Lutheran schoolteacher in Jonesville, Indiana, and after that a short
time in Port Hope, Michigan. Sickness
forced his to resign, and he went to Denver in quest of health. Although losing this fight, he had fought the
good fight of faith, finishing his course and receiving the crown of
righteousness. 2 Tim. 4, 7. 8. He is survived by his wife, Ida, nee
Middendorf, two children, his mother, three brothers, and two sisters.
At the funeral service on December 14 the
undersigned preached in German on Gen. 32, 10, the text which the departed had
requested him to use, and in English on Luke 2, 29. 30. Denver,
Colorado; Carl A. Gieseler.
Obituary of Prof. John A. Schwoy, A.M. (No. 3, page 45)
On December 6, 1927, John A. Schwoy, pastor and professor ameritus, was suddenly called hence by his Lord and Master, whom he had served for more than forty years. Born at Paterson, New Jersey, December 5, 1859, where his parents, Gotthelf Schwoy and Mary, nee Hundertmark, were charter members of St. Paul’s Church, he attended the Christian day-school taught by the sainted Rev. H.H. Walker, D.D. Later he entered Concordia College, Fort Wayne, and was graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1883.
Rev. Schwoy first served as missionary in
Texas for a year, when he had to resign on account of ill health. In August, 1884, he accepted a call to
Alexandria, Virginia. On November 16, 1884,
he was united in marriage to Wilhelmine Steinhaeuser, of Paterson, New
Jersey. The union was not blessed with
any children. Until April 21, 1893, he
continued his labors at Alexandria both as pastor and teacher of the Christian
day-school. When his health again
failed, he had to resign and came to Paterson to make his home with his mother
and later with his wife’s parents. While
recuperating, he took a course in Latin and English literature at New York
University, receiving the degree of A.M.
In January, 1896, he served the Hackensack, New Jersey, mission for a
time. Later in 1896 he was installed as
pastor at Richfield, New Jersey. Here he
served for ten years, again also teaching school during the entire time. On October 14, 1906, he accepted a call to
Concordia College, Hawthorne, New York, as instructor in English. At the end of June, 1921, he had to resign
also this position on account of general failing health and because his eyes
could not stand the strain of work. Once
more he went to his wife’s relatives at North Haledon, New Jersey. Shortly after arriving there, on October 6,
1921, his beloved wife, who had shared his joys and sorrows for thirty-seven
years, was suddenly taken from his side.
He remained with his wife’s relatives until his end. When his health again improved, he was kept
busy doing supply work in various congregations in New Jersey and New York. In 1924 and 1925 he served his home
congregation at Paterson, New Jersey, faithful and valuable member of this
congregation and its church council. For
several months previous to his death he assisted at St. John’s Church,
Bloomfield, New Jersey, where he preached his last sermon a week before he
died.
Although not in perfect health, Professor
Schwoy’s condition did not seem serious.
On Sunday, December 4, he did not feel well enough to preach in
Bloomfield, but he was much improved on Monday, his birthday. On Tuesday he arose early, as usual, and ate a
hearty breakfast. Shortly afterwards he
complained of being short of breath. He
sat down in a rocking chair, and, after a few gasps, fell gently asleep, having
arrived at the age of 68 years and 1 day.
Funeral services were held at St. Paul’s
Church, Paterson, on December 9. His
pastor, the undersigned, who also officiated at the house and at the grave,
preached the German funeral sermon, and Prof. Geo. A. Romoser, representing our
college at Bronxville, spoke in English.
Other speakers were President H. Birkner of the Atlantic District and
Rev. Karl Kretzmann, chairman of the local conference, of which Professor
Schwoy was a member. Prof. H.F.A. Stein,
Ph.D., also read resolutions of condolence from the faculty at Bronxville. Rev. F. Pebler officiated at the altar. The children of our Christian day-school, in
which he was always very much interested, sang an appropriate hymn. His mortal remains were laid to rest in Cedar
Lawn Cemetery, Paterson, awaiting the great day of resurrection. A sister, the wife of Teacher Louis Luecke,
of Paterson, a brother, Christian Schwoy, also of Paterson, a nephew, Pastor
A.G.L. Luecke, Pine Island, New York, and a niece, the wife of Pastor P.G.
Sander, New York City, are among the surviving relatives. Matt. 25, 21.
Paterson, New Jersey; A.G. Dick.
Obituary of Teacher William M. Spuhler (No. 5, page 101)
After a brief
illness William M. Spuhler, teacher emeritus, was called to his heavenly
home. With his departure a faithful and
energetic worker has gone to his reward.
He died January 29 at the age of 68 years and 1 day. The funeral service was held at Zion Church,
Akron, Ohio, February 1. Th undersigned
officiated. The choir and the children
of our Christian day-school sang appropriate hymns. The mortal remains were laid to rest in the
plot of Zion Church in Glendale Cemetery, Akron.
William M. Spuhler was born January 28,
1860, in Monroe, Michigan. He attended
the Christian day-school there till his confirmation. He then entered our Normal College at
Addison, Illinois, and graduated in 1878.
His first charge was at Columbus, Indiana, where he served for seven
years. In the spring of 1886 a call was
sent to him by Zion Church, of Akron, Ohio, which he accepted. Here he served for thirty-seven years. After his retirement, five years ago, he
continued to serve the congregation in many other capacities with great
diligence and faithfulness. As a mark of
it love and esteem the congregation had granted him a pension of $70 a month.
In 1879 Teacher Spuhler entered the state
of holy matrimony with Matilda, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. August Heitmueller,
of Columbus, Indiana. The widow, a son,
and a daughter mourn his departure. Rev. 14, 13.
Akron, Ohio; E.F. Noack.
Obituary of Teacher Emeritus Louis Kanke (No. 6, page 117)
When Teacher emeritus Louis Kanke departed this life on February 18, another good and faithful servant entered into the joy of his Lord. For thirty-seven years he served the Master as shepherd of His lambs, teaching in Lutheran parochial schools at various places in Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas. Since his resignation in 1912 on account of ill health he lived with his son, Mr. Otto Kanke, the last ten years in Nokomis, Illinois. After a funeral service, conducted by the pastor of Trinity Ev. Luth. Church at Nokomis on February 20, the body was taken to Washington, Missouri, and there laid to rest the following day, Pastor A.H. Gassner officiating. Nokomis, Illinois; O. Henkel.
Obituary of Student Theobald Adolf Bellmann (No. 7, page 134)
On March 1 the sad news was received at our Springfield Concordia that it had pleased God to call unto Himself one of our students, Theobald Adolf Bellmann. He was the son of Martin Bellmann and his wife Martha, nee Lohmann. Theobald was born November 27, 1904, in Altenburg, Missouri, and was a member of the present vicaring class. The doctors diagnosed his case as tumor of the brain. Two hours after the operation he passed away. On March 4 he received a Christian burial in Altenburg, Missouri. Springfield, Illinois; H.A. Klein.
Obituary of Teacher J.M. Helmreich (No. 8, page 150)
Teacher J.M.
Helmreich is resting from his labors after having taught in our schools for
nearly fifty years. He died in the
Anaheim Sanitarium, Anaheim, California, on March 3, where he had submitted to
a major operation, at the age of 70 years, 1 month, and 19 days.
John M.
Helmreich was born in Frankenlust, Bay County, Michigan, January 14, 1858. In the fall of 1871 he entered our Teachers’
Seminary at Addison, Illinois, where he was graduated in 1877. He received and accepted a call to Yorkville,
Illinois. Later he served schools at Bay
City, Michigan, where he labored diligently and faithfully for twenty-eight
years, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Wisconsin Synod), and Orange, California. In 1923 he was called to the principalship of
the school of the newly organized Immanuel Congregation at Orange, California,
where he labored faithfully until the fall of 1926. After this he still served as organist of the
congregation in Anaheim until the Sunday previous to his operation. Teacher Helmreich was an accomplished
organist and officiated in that capacity at all his charges.
In 1881
Teacher Helmreich entered the estate of holy matrimony with Miss Sophia
Deindoerfer, of Saginaw, Michigan. Their
union was blessed with five children, two sons and three daughters. One daughter (in 1897) and his beloved wife
(in 1910) preceded him in death. In 1913
he was again joined in holy wedlock, this time with Mrs. Johanna Rechlin, with
whom he shared joys and sorrows until his death. He is survived by his wife, two sons, two
daughters, five grandchildren, and three sisters.
Memorial services
were held for the deceased in Immanuel Lutheran Church of Orange, California,
from where the remains were sent to Bay City, Michigan, for interment. Funeral services were held in the city on
March 9 in Immanuel Church, and the remains were laid to rest beside those of
his first wife in Elm Lawn Cemetery. On
departing this life he surely heard the voice of his Master: “Well done, thou
good and faithful servant! Enter thou
into the joy of thy Lord.” Matt. 25,
21. W.L.
Obituary of Rev. W.E. Dube (No. 9, page 165)
After sever
suffering, which had lasted for several months, the Rev. W.E. Dube spent the
last day of his life without pain. For
weeks he had been unable to speak due to a throat malady, which resulted in his
death. But on the last day God granted
him the joy of being able to converse once more with the members of his
family. Making full use of this
God-given privilege to admonish and encourage his loved ones, he bade them
farewell. His dying words were: “I
believe that Jesus Christ has redeemed all mankind and that He has redeemed me
also. I am ready to die in the faith
which I have been permitted to preach.”
He had raised himself up in his bed to make this statement and then lay
down again to depart in peace.
From El Paso,
Texas, where he had gone to recuperate, his earthly remains were taken to
Houston, Texas, for burial. The
undersigned based his funeral address upon Phil. 1, 21. Rev. G.A. Naumann officiated at the
grave. Local pastors acted as
pall-bearers.
Rev. W.E. Dube
was born July 16, 1877, in Fedor, Texas.
After attending our colleges at Concordia, Missouri, and at Milwaukee,
he graduated in 1901 from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. His first charge was Hochkirch, Texas, where
he served until 1907, when he accepted a call to Westfield, Texas. Other congregations which he served are:
Cypress and Neudorf, Texas, Hochkirch, Texas (for the second time), Silver
City, New Mexico, and Mercedes, Texas.
During the early part of 1927 he was compelled to resign his pastorate
at Mercedes on account of throat trouble.
At first it seemed that a cure might be effected, but the Lord found it
wise to take him from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant on February
20, 1928.
The departed
married Miss Margaret Stoeckli on February 10, 1902. God blessed the union with four children, one
son and three daughters, one of whom, Lydia, God called home in September,
1917.
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.” Houston, Texas; J.W. Behnken.
Obituary of Rev. Adolph Herman Smukal (No. 9, page 165)
Again the
Master, in His unsearchable wisdom and counsel, had called a young servant of
the Word out of the Church Militant into the Church Triumphant: Pastor Adolph
Smukal, assistant pastor of Bethany Church, Detroit, Michigan. He was endowed with splendid gifts and was a
humble and faithful worker in his Master’s kingdom, and therefore his early
death is a severe loss to his congregation and to the brethren of his
conference, but especially to his aging father, whose able assistant he was.
Pastor Adolph
Herman Smukal was born October 21, 1898, at Detroit, Michigan. In 1913 he entered Concordia College at Fort
Wayne, Indiana, and in 1923 he graduated from Concordia Seminary of St. Louis,
Missouri. Having been called as
assistant pastor by Bethany Congregation, Detroit, he was ordained and
installed into the ministry by his father July 15, 1923. For a brief period of only four years was he
permitted to serve this congregation, but his faithful and efficient work had
soon won him the love and esteem of his parish.
The loss of his voice, due to tuberculosis of the larynx, compelled his
to resign from the ministry July 11, 1927.
Taking leave of his congregation, his parting words were: “I shall not
die, but live and declare the works of the Lord,” Ps. 118, 17, adding: “If not
on earth, than surely in heaven.” On
January 12, while his brother, Rev. G. Smukal, of Los Angeles, California, was
at his bedside, he died peacefully, firmly believing in Jesus, the Savior of
sinners. His age was 29 years, 2 months,
and 21 days.
After a brief
funeral service at Los Angeles, at which Rev. A. Hansen delivered the address,
his mortal remains were sent to his parents at Detroit. There the burial services were held January
19. Rev. J.M. Gugel conducted the
services at the home. At the church the
German sermon, based on Rom. 8, 28, was delivered by the undersigned; the
English sermon based on 2 Tim. 10. 11a, by Rev. F.A. Kolch. President Rev. J. Schinnerer, representing
the Michigan District and the pastoral conference of which the departed was a
member, addressed words of sympathy and comfort to the bereft family and
congregation. Brethren of the English
District and of the Ven. Wisconsin Synod also expressed their sympathy and
offered words of consolation. Then the
mortal remains were laid to rest in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Rev. Gilbert Otte
officiating.
The deceased leaves his sorrowing parents, Rev. R.J. Smukal and wife, three brothers, two of whom, Rev. Gotthold Smukal at Los Angeles and Rev. Ewald Smukal at Kilbourn, Wisconsin, are serving in the ministry, and two sisters. May God graciously comfort them through His Holy Spirit! Detroit, Michigan; Phil. H. Bohn.
Obituary of Teacher F.W. Moesta (No. 9, page 166)
On March 26,
the life of F.W. Moesta, for forty-five years teacher of St. Jame’s Luthern
School at Logansport, Indiana, came to a close at the age of 71 years. He was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany,
September 6, 1847, and came to this country when seventeen years old. Graduating from our Teachers’ Seminary at
Addison, Illinois, in 1869, he accepted a call to Logansport, where he taught
uninterruptedly till his resignation fourteen years ago. In 1874 he was united in marriage with Miss
Frederica Peters, which union was blessed with two children.
Teacher Moesta
was a sincere Christian and a faithful teacher, and even when no longer active
in school, he employed his time in the interest of the congregation. He was a gifted musician and an accomplished
organist. His Interludes,
composed in the early days of our Synod, were extensively used.
Benevolent bequests amounting to $195 were made in his memory by his many friends and former pupils. E.H.R.
Editorial – Theodore Lamprecht Called to His Reward (No. 10, page 173)
The death of Mr. Theo. Lamprecht was reported April 30
from Cannes, France, through the office of the American Lutheran Publicity
Bureau, of which he was president. The
news of his passing will call forth expressions of regret in thousands of
Lutheran homes, both in this country and abroad. Mr. Lamprecht stood in the front rank of
Lutheran laymen and was an example of a Christian man of nmeans who looked upon
his earthly possessions as a deposit for which he was appointed a trustee
during his life on earth, responsible to the great Giver of all good things for
the use which he made of his talents and wealth. Through his example he was an inspiration to
hosts of others, and those who associated most intimately with him loved him most. His intelligent concern for our Missouri
Synod was recognized, and he held positions of influence on many boards and
committees. He was awake to every new
opportunity for advancing the interests of his Church. It was his pleading that resulted in the
founding of our theological seminary at Zehlendorf-Berlin. And his pleading was always backed up by his
personal gifts. He was one of the
founders of the Lutheran Laymen’s League in 1917 and its active president until
1926. Especially to his enthusiasm was
due the participation of so many thousands of our people – some 69,000, if
memory serves us right – in the collection of the Endowment Fund for our
superannuated ministers and teachers and their widows and orphans.
Mr. Lamprecht
remained a simple child of God in spite of the large success which crowned his
business career. The writer can testify
to the unselfishness and utter integrity of the man’s motives, his loyalty to
Lutheran principles, his trust in God and stout faith in the efficacy of
prayer. His letters – whether written
from his Long Island home, or from Honolulu, or Shanghai, or Cairo, or Paris –
ever sounded the note of an eager interest in the spread of the Gospel and the
relief of human suffering. His private
benefactions, of which the world in most cases learned nothing, mounted into
many thousands every year. Yet he never
exalted himself above those who were less conscious of their obligations to the
Church, and we have never heard him utter an unkind word regarding any person.
Mr. Theo.
Lamprecht was a graduate of Concordia College, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and of
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri.
He then chose a mercantile career, entering the woolen business, in
which he started at the bottom and became very successful.. He superintended
the Government purchases of the huge quantities of woolen goods needed by our
army during the World War. During the
past three or four years he traveled for his health. G.
