Franz Arnold Willenbring

OBITUARY (Richmond Standard 5/2/1919 pg. 5) PIONEER RESIDENT DIED LAST FRIDAY Through the death of Frank A. Willenbring Stearns county loses one of its pioneer residents and Richmond its oldest citizen. Frank A. Willenbring was born Sept. 10, 1832, at Steinfeld, Oldenburg. His father came to America and located at New Vienna, Dubuque Co., Iowa, in the spring of 1844. Frank A. Willenbring, with his mother two brothers and one sister came to America in the fall of 1844, and learned that their father had died one week prior to their arrival. Mr. Willenbring grew to manhood in Dubuque county, and was married to Maria Katherine Bruch on the 10th day of April, 1855. They came to Stearns county about four years later, driving the entire distance with a yoke of oxen, and settled on a farm where they resided until the year 1900, when they retired from farm life and moved near the village of Richmond. Mrs. Willenbring proceeded her husband in death six years ago. Since 1866 Mr. Willenbring was engaged in the making of clothing, and the later years of his life was devoted to the making of carpets, which trade he kept up until about three weeks before his death. Although never very strong Mr. Willenbring never found it necessary to have medical attention for the last 65 years, and did not wish to have the doctor during his last illness, believing the time had come to leave this life. On April 9, he began failing very noticeably and continued to grow weaker, going from one fainting spell to another and finally succumbed on April 25, at 6:40 o'clock a.m. He was well prepared with the rights of the Catholic church. Mr. Willenbring was a pious and humble father. He leaves to mourn one brother, Joseph, of Richmond, one half-brother, John Drier, of Doon, Iowa, four sons, Henry, John, Aloys and Herman, all of Richmond, one daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Neu of Watkins, Minn, also Mrs. Barney Willenbring. The funeral was held Tuesday from St. Peter and Paul's church, Rev. Fr. Gregor officiating, interment being made in the local cemetery.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 20 2018, 3:20:52 UTC

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GEDCOM Note

<p>Birth: Sep. 10, 1832, Germany</p> <p>Death: Apr. 25, 1919</p> <p>Richmond</p> <p>Stearns County</p> <p>Minnesota, USA</p> <p> </p> <p>OBITUARY (Richmond Standard 5/2/1919 pg. 5)</p> <p>PIONEER RESIDENT DIED LAST FRIDAY Through the death of Frank A. Willenbring Stearns county loses one of its pioneer residents and Richmond its oldest citizen. Frank A. Willenbring was born Sept. 10, 1832, at Steinfeld, Oldenburg. His father came to America and located at New Vienna, Dubuque Co., Iowa, in the spring of 1844. Frank A. Willenbring, with his mother two brothers and one sister came to America in the fall of 1844, and learned that their father had died one week prior to their arrival. Mr. Willenbring grew to manhood in Dubuque county, and was married to Maria Katherine Bruch on the 10th day of April, 1855. They came to Stearns county about four years later, driving the entire distance with a yoke of oxen, and settled on a farm where they resided until the year 1900, when theyretired from farm life and moved near the village of Richmond. Mrs. Willenbring proceeded her husband in death six years ago. Since 1866 Mr. Willenbring was engaged in the making of clothing, and thelater years of his life was devoted to the making of carpets, which trade he kept up until about three weeks before his death. Although never very strong Mr. Willenbring never found it necessary to have medical attention for the last 65 years, and did not wish to have the doctor during his last illness, believing the time had come to leave this life. On April 9, he began failing very noticeably and continued to grow weaker, going from one fainting spell to another and finally succumbed on April 25, at 6:40 o'clock a.m. He was well prepared with the rights of the Catholic church. Mr. Willenbring was a pious and humble father. He leaves to mourn one brother, Joseph, of Richmond, one half-brother, John Drier, of Doon, Iowa, four sons, Henry, John, Aloys and Herman, all of Richmond, one daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Neu of Watkins, Minn, also Mrs. Barney Willenbring. The funeral was held Tuesday from St. Peter and Paul's church, Rev. Fr. Gregor officiating, interment being made in the local cemetery.</p>