Memorials › Wilhelm Detlef Stelk

Wilhelm Detlef Stelk

28 Feb 1852 – 17 Apr 1918

Birth28 Feb 1852
Death17 Apr 1918
CemeteryGrand Island Cemetery
Grand Island , Hall County , Nebraska , USA
Added byKay Cynova on 06 Dec 2012
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/101722960

Bio

Mother Anna Louisa Dam died in Germany in 1854. ******* Grand Island Daily independent Monday 22 April 1918 and Thursday 25 April 1918 Obituary The last sad rites over the earthly remains of Wilhelm Detlef Stelk, were held at the family residence, about a mile southeast of this city, Sunday afternoon and interment was made in the city cemetery. During his life Mr. Stelk was well and very favorably known by a large number of people in this community and his funeral was attended by those who took this way of attesting their loyalty to his family and respect for their memory of him. his widow and children will be greatly sustained by knowing that after a residence of over sixty years on the home place, he has departed leaving none to question his actions during all of that time and every friend and acquaintance testifying to his honesty, integrity and splendid citizenship: all regretting that he could not have been spared longer. The services were attended by one of the largest assemblies of citizens gathered together by such a summons in a long time. Over 130 automobiles were counted in the procession. there was a correspondingly large number of beautiful floral tributes. the Rev's L. L. Lipe and H. Schumann officiated, and the addresses were both in English and German. The Liederkranz male chorus sang several funeral hymns. The honorary pallbearers were Messrs. August Beckmann, Peter Mohr, John Reher, Fred Thomssen, Henry Vieregg, Henry Joenck, and Henry Westphal. The active pallbearers were Messrs. C. H. Menck, William Hagge, Bernard Ewoldt, Henry Schumacher, Henry Joehnck, Jr., and William Detlefsen. Interment was made in Grand Island cemetery. Wilhelm Detlef Stelk was born on the 28th day of February 1852, at Preslorf, Holstein, Germany, and was brought to this country by his father, Marx Stelk, in 1855. They sailed from Germany and landed at New York after a stormy voyage of seventeen weeks, enduring the greatest hardship and suffering. The grandmother and a sister accompanied them, but both died of exposure and were buried at sea. Father and son went to Wisconsin, where they remained a year, then moved to Nebraska and took up their home on the land where the departed has resided ever since. They thus joined that party of hardy pioneers who settled this community in 1857. In 1879, Mr. Stelk was united in marriage to Meta Marie Ahlers, and there were born to this union nine children, five of whom are living: Mrs. John Denker of Hamilton county, William D. Stelk of St. Joseph, Mo., and Maria, Detlef and Otto, who are living at home. It may be of interest to note that Mr. Stelk was the first white child in central Nebraska and he grew to manhood in what was then known as the land of Indians and buffaloes. At the age of 7 he planted a large number of trees which now surround and beautify the Stelk farm, where a modern home and well equipped farm buildings have replaced the log house, barns, and sheds built in the pioneer days, the last of which was removed only about a year ago. Mr. Stelk was a hard working and industrious man, who adapted himself to his surroundings and kept pace with the growth of the country. he saw that his children had the advantages of a practical education. HE was a successful farmer and stock raiser and accumulated a small fortune, but his greatest interest was in the welfare of his family and he departed this life knowing that his example had not been in vain. He lived to see all of his children living as he had lived and realizing the responsibilities of life. One of our hardy pioneers have passed away but the history of this community will perpetuate their memory, for it is to them that we owe their beginning of the great development in central Nebraska. Few pioneers live to see the result of their work. Mr. Stelk did, and he took no small part in paving the way for the prosperity we now enjoy in this part of the state. He helped make it a splendid place to live in. ******* Grand Island Daily Independent Wednesday 17 April 1918 Was Boy of Pioneer Days Departure of Lad Who Came to Hall in 1857 Hall county today mourns the loss of one of its oldest residents in the death of Mr. William Stelk, which occurred about 2:30 o'clock this morning at the St. Francis hospital, following an illness of six weeks from diabetes. Mr. Stelk was born in Germany on February 28, 1852, and was 66 years of age at the time of his demise. When only three years of age he came to America with his parents(sic), Mr. and Mrs. Marx Stelk, and shortly thereafter located on a farm about two miles southwest of this city, which has remained the farm home of the family ever since. The father, Marx Stelk, was one of the twenty-five German - Americans who settled here and founded Hall county. Besides his bereaved wife he leaves five children to mourn his loss, they being William Stelk Jr., Otto, Detlef, Anna and Mrs. John Denker, of Phillips, as also four grandchildren. Arrangements for the funeral have not yet been made. ****** Married in Hall County, NE 25 April 1879

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