30 April 1952 - The Lowden News

Henry R. Griesbach, 80, retired contractor, died Friday morning in his home here. He had been in failing health for several years, following a stroke.

Last rites were held Monday with a prayer service in the home at 1:30 p.m. and the funeral at 2 o'clock in Zion's Evangelical and Reformed church, the Rev. N. S. Roberts officiating. Hymns were sung by Mrs F. C. Conrad, Mrs Walter Helmold, Ed Conrad and Henry Niermeyer.

Serving as pallbearers were Julius Freese, Otto Rowold, Fred Dreyer, Raymond Licht, Reuben Conrad and Cyrus Kemmann. Mrs. Fred Montz, Mrs Ed Conrad and Mrs Henry Strackbein were in charge of the floral tributes. Burial was in the Lowden cemetery.

Henry R. Griesbach was born Feb. 5, 1872, near Lubeck, Holstein, Germany. There he was baptized and confirmed in the Xian faith. On July 14, 1887, he came to Lowden and made his home with his parents, Mr and Mrs Louis Stoecker.

Mr Griesbach was united in marriage with Elizabeth Boettger on Dec. 22, 1905, and seven children were born to this union.

He was a building contractor from 1903 through 1946. In the 1920's he was mayor of Lowden for two terms. For 22 years he served as town councilman. Mr Griesbach was a member of the school board for 12 years and president of the board for six years. He was a former president of the Lowden cemetery association.

The deceased was a member of Zion Evangelical and Reformed church.

Remaining to mourn his departure are, his wife, Elizabeth; three daughters, Mrs Irma Bright, Massillon, Mrs Hilda Rogers, Toronto, and Mrs Mercedes Gottschalk, Fonda; two sons, Ervin and Henry A., both of Lowden; five sisters, Mrs Lottie Klahn, Mrs Chris Granzow, Mrs Fred Davidson, all of Wheatland, Mrs Robert Barnes, Mt Vernon and Mrs J. V. Milota, Lowden; three brothers, Adolph, Wheatland, Matthias, Princeville, Ill., and Rudolph, Lowden; 10 grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two daughters, an infant at birth and Hulda, and two brothers.

Those attending the services from a distance were Mr and Mrs Martin Gottschalk and family of Fonda, Mr and Mrs Matthias Stoecker of Princeville, Ill., Mrs William Begner, Dunlap, Ill., and Mr and Mrs Robert Barnes of Mt. Vernon. Others were from Wheatland, Toronto, Massillon, Oxford Junction and Lowden.