Edward W. Mielke died at his home in Rocklyn, Monday morning, Aug 5, after a long illness which invalided him the past year and a half. Mr Mielke was born in Germany but came to the States with his parents when he was 4 years old. He resided in the Rocklyn community 76 years. Survivors include his four children, Carl, George, Helen, all at Rocklyn; and Mrs Dwight MacKenzie (Evelyn), Spokane; a sister, Mrs Bertha Maurer, Gridley, CA; and six grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug 6, from the Rocklyn Zion Methodist church with Rev Robert R Roberts officiating. Strate Funeral Home was in charge. Interment was in the Zion Cemetery beside his wife who died in 1955. The obituary and report of the last rites will be published next week.” (Citizen: 7 Aug 1959)

Edward William Mielke was born Aug 5, 1878 near Hammond, Wabasha County, MN. He came to Washington Territory with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gottlieb Mielke (Minnie Kruger) in the fall of 1883. They settled on a homestead 15 miles southwest of Cottonwood, which is now Davenport, Washington. Mr. Mielke attended the Zion school, and was a life-long member of the Zion Methodist church in which he served in most of the important Sunday School and church offices. After his father’s death, Sept 13, 1893, he took over the home place and continued with farming and stock raising. His mother remained with him. Feb 22, 1909 Mrs Gottlieb Mielke died, and for several years Mr Mielke’s sister, a widow, Mrs Miller, and her two children, Ralph Miller and the present Mrs Jake Fichtenberg, lived with him on the farm. On Feb 26, 1918 he was united in marriage with Frieda Wentsch at Walla Walla. The couple created a fine, Christian home and were prominent in church and school affairs in their district. Mr Mielke was an authentic source of the ‘history and geography’ of the Rocklyn area. To this union were born four children: Carl Edward, Helen Frieda, George Willis, and Evelyn Edna, now Mrs Dwight MacKenzie. Mrs Mielke died April 1, 1955 after a long illness. Besides his four children, other family members who survive include six grandchildren, Susan, Cheryl, Roberta, Douglas and Ronald Mielke, and Karen MacKenzie and a sister, Mrs Bertha Maurer of Gridley, CA. ‘All his toils and conflicts o’er, Lo he dwells with Christ above; Oh, what glories he’s discovered In the Savior whom he loved. His weary hours and days of pain, His troubled nights are past; And in our aching hearts we know He has found sweet rest at last.—Author Unknown.’ Last rites for Mr Mielke were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug 6, at the Zion Methodist Church at Rocklyn, under the direction of Strate Funeral Home. Rev Robert R Roberts, pastor of the church, in his sermon called the Christian ‘a traveler on his way to Zion’ ... in spite of life’s trials, hardships and sorrows ‘we can rest assured that the Heavenly Father knows and understands. That he cares, and that he loves us.’ Mr Roberts praise of Mr Mielke’s long life of Christian activities and concluded his remarks with these words: ‘Father Mielke truly is a child of God forever and I know that his life here on earth has brought many others into the family as heirs of the eternal King ... His life upon the earth will be remembered by all who knew him as one of the fullest and richest and most blessed that has ever been lived for God.’ Mrs Ray Forrest of Walla Walla, accompanied by her sister, Mrs Melvin Brunton, sang ‘Asleep in Jesus,’ and ‘Goodnight and Goodmorning’. Mrs Elwend Kruger played music preceding the services. Pallbearers, who were nephews of Mr Mielke, were Wallace, Howard, and Melvin Maurer, Herbert and Elwend Kruger, and Ralph Miller. Relatives present from out of town included Mrs Bertha Maurer; Mr Wallace Maurer, Gridley, CA; Mrs A O Dalgleish and son Rodger, of Portland, OR; Mr Robert Wentsch, Mrs Melvin Brunton, Mrs Ray Forrest, and Mr and Mrs Ernest Gross, all of Walla Walla, WA; Mr and Mrs Charles Rodgers, and Mrs Henry Suess and children of Colfax; the Howard Maurers from Spokane and a host of friends and relatives from Spokane, and surrounding communities, including Mr and Mrs Gottlieb Depner, Choteau, MT, Mrs Edna Riehle, Walla Walla.” (Citizen: 14 Aug 1959) “Edward W Mielke.—His home, Rocklyn, WA, a life-time member of the Zion Methodist church. Survived by 2 sons, Carl and George Mielke, both of Davenport; 2 daughters, Miss Helen Mielke at the home, Mrs Evelyn MacKenzie, Spokane; 1 sister, Mrs Bertha C Maurer, Gridley, CA; 6 grandchildren. Funeral services Thursday, Aug 6, at 2 p.m. from the Zion Methodist Church, Rocklyn, WA. Rev Robert R Roberts officiating. Interment Zion Cemetery, Rocklyn, WA. Strate Funeral Home, Davenport, WA, in charge.” (Spokesman Review: undated) “Mr Edward Mielke passed away Monday morning after a losing battle with bone cancer. Mr Mielke had been ill and confined to his bed most of the time in the past year. Mr Mielke came to this community in 1883 when he was five years old. He was engaged in farming and raising cattle. Mrs Bertha Maurer of Gridley, CA, visited Mr Mielke Saturday. She is Mr Mielke’s sister.” (Citizen: Rocklyn Column: undated)