FELDMANN, Henry

AGED AVISTON RESIDENT PASSES AWAY

Henry Feldmann, aged 82 years, 6 months and 3 days, one of Aviston’s senior parishioners and pioneers died at his home there at 10:45 p.m. Friday, August 11th. Deceased had during the last nine years, lived in Aviston, to which village he had retired after an extended life on the farm, which is situated one-half mile southwest of Aviston and now owned and farmed by his son Herman.

Deceased was born on the old Feldman homestead, presently tenanted by a nephew Frank Feldmann, near the intersections of Aviston, Albers and Germantown parishes. Upon marriage, approximately 60 years ago, to Mary Schnittker and accompanied by his aged father, he took charge of the farm, which he operated uninterruptedly and from which his retirement took place. Though the beginning was modest and though he failed to accumulate much wealth, he never wanted for the necessities of life and was able by frugal management to constantly lay by a pittance to take care of his wants in advanced life. Unostentatiously he conducted his farming pursuits, finding his main source of joy in the rearing of his family. Eight children, six girls and two boys, were born to him, all of whom survive. His wife died on January 9, 1914, after all the children had reached maturity, yet, despite the fact that her services were no longer needed, and death had occurred after a refuge for retirement had been built in the village, this loss was constantly and keenly felt. Bowing to the will of Providence he took his loss resignedly and soon after with his two younger daughters, Mary and Cecelia he retired to his town home. With them he spent the evenings of his life, daily attending mass and receiving communion, health permitting, and assisting with the little chores about the home. Industry, frugality, kindliness, genuine piety and seclusion were ever his outstanding characteristics and the stood him well in his advanced years.

In the hey-day of everyday life his going will not be greatly noticed, but to his church-pew and to his children who saw in him the personification of all that the word fatherhood implies, there will be a very noticeable void.

His final illness, contrary to all expectation, dating from several days prior to his demise was rather prolonged. On Friday the day of week on which his spouse too had died, at the time as previously stated, surrounded by all his children and other immediate relatives including a priest grandson, who had repeatedly pronounced absolution over him, he calmly and peacefully breathed his last.

Just two months and a day prior to his demise he had the pleasure of seeing his eldest grandson, now the Rev. Paul Holthaus, elevated to the priesthood. Though he had suffered mental lapses quite frequently during the last year his mind was serene on the days of celebration that this elevation implies, and they elated him greatly.

He leaves the following children: Anna, Mrs. Mondt; George; Elizabeth, Mrs. Henry Holthaus; Mary, Herman and Caecelia of here; Catherine, Mrs. Herman Holtkamp of Breese, and Euphamia, Sr. M. Adolphine, a member of the order of Poor Hand Maids of Jesus Christ, now Superior at the St. Mary’s Hospital, Centralia; also 22 grandchildren and three great grandsons. The great grand children are the sons of the daughters of Mrs. Holtkamp. Besides the priest-grandson there is a granddaughter in a religious order, being Sr. M. Ignatio, O.S. F., a daughter of Mrs. Holthaus and a sister of the grandson priest.

The obsequies took place on Monday, August 14, at 9 a.m. Following a Solemn Requiem Mass at which the Reverend grandson, Paul Holthaus, was celebrant, a cousin, Fr. Tonnies, of Paderborn-deacon, the pastor, Fr. Lohmann subdeacon, and the ecclesiastic ‘Edmund Schumacher, Master of Ceremonies, with Fr. Fix of Centralia gracing the sanctuary, the sizeable cortege wended to St. Francis cemetery, where after the usual ceremony the remains were laid to rest beside the members of the local Men’s Sodality of which deceased had been a lifetime member the clergy, religious relatives and friends. The religious in attendance were from the local Centralia Hospitals and from the convent in Germantown. To the good father, grand great-grand father Requies cant in Peace. 

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