Friday, June 27, 2008

Mary Bruha Knadle d: 1921

Mother of Twelve Children Called to Eternal Reward
Mrs. John M. Knadle, brief mention of whose death was made in last weeks Register, passed away at the Knadle home in Mission, TX on Tuesday morning, March 22nd between the hours of 12 and 4, from heart trouble. Death was very sudden for the lady in company with her husband and son, Albert, had lunch at midnight. She was then in the best of spirits and as usual, jolly. She had been taking medicine for about 2 weeks but was never confined to her bed and it was when Mr. Knadle went to her room about 4 o'clock to give her medicine that he was shocked to find her cold in death. That she passed peacefully away was evident from the position in which she lay, for she was covered to the hips and with her hands folded over her breasts seemed in natural sleep, but she had passed on.
Owing to the great distance between Mission and Vienna the body was hurridly prepared for shipment and they left that afternoon at 1:35, accompanied by Mr. Knadle and daughter, Miss Mable, hoping to reach here Friday evening. However, on account of wrong routing by the agent, they missed connections at Sioux City and were forced to go by way of Huron arriving in Vienna Saturday morning.
Mary Bruha was born in Bohemia, Sept 23, 1860 and died at Mission on March 22, 1921, being 60 years, 6 months and 29 days of age at time of death. When but a girl of 12 years she came to America with her parents and resided at Tuba, WI. On Jan 18, 1881 she was united in marriage to John M. Knadle at Hillsboro WI and in 1886 came to South Dakota, settling on a homestead east of this village, the farm now occupied by a son, Fred. In 1902 they moved to Vienna and engaged in the general merchandise business until 1917 when they sold out to John E. Low and in October of that year moved to Mission where they have made their home, prospered and were happy until death removed the mother.
Besides the loving husband she leaves 12 children, 2 brothers, a sister, many near relatives and a friend in everyone who knew her, to mourn her loss. The children are: Charles of Huron SD; Edward D., Lucca, N.D.; Adolph, Waubay SD; George, Watertown; Fred, Theodore, John R., Mrs. K.E. Seim and Mrs. George Cluts of Vienna; Albert, Earnest and Mable, Mission. The brothers are Jake Bruha of this village and Joe Bruha at Wonewoc WI, the sister Mrs John Jafek at Glencoe OK. The latter two were unable to be present at the funeral on account of sickness in the family. All the children except Albert and Earnest of Mission were in attendance.
The funeral was to be held Sunday afternoon but owing to the severe snow storm Saturday night it was postponed until Monday afternoon. Services were held at the John R. Knadle home after which the body was taken to the Congregational Church, Rev. Juell of Aberdeen conducting the last rites. The church was packed and many were forced to remain outside. The floral offerings were many and beautiful and Rev. Juell preached a splendid and consoling sermon. The remains were taken to the Dixon cemetery and interred in the family lot.
Mrs. John M. Knadle loved by every man, woman and child, who had the pleasure of knowing her, was a lady of the highest type. She with her husband were among the sturdy pioneers who went through the hardships of the earlier days, but who never lost hope and they were well repaid in prosperity and the staunch friendship of all the people for miles around.

1 comment:

Joe B. in CT said...

This was interesting to read, because the Joe Bruha, referenced as a brother of Mary in this obituary, is my name sake. He was the grandfather of my father, Harlan Lee Bruha, son of Emil Bruha of Wonewoc, WI.

-- Joe Bruha, Stamford, CT
----joe.bruha@gmail.com----