Schulenburg Sticker, 8 June 1899

Death of Wm. Voelkel, Sr.

Mr. Wm. Voelkel, an aged and highly respected citizen, died at his home in Yoakum a few minutes before midnight on last Thursday, June 2nd; death resulting after an illness of short duration. Had Mr. Voelkel lived a few minutes longer he would have died on his 73rd birthday. Mr. Voelkel was born June 2nd, 1826, in Erntebrick Kreis Siegen, Regierungsbezirk Amdtsberg Westpfalen, and came to Austin county, Texas in 1848, and was married to Miss Annie Find in 1852. This union was blessed by ten children, five sons and five daughters, all of whom now live in surrounding counties. Two of his sons, William and Henry Voelkel, live at Schulenburg, while another son, Ernst Voelkel, lives at Cheapside. The other two sons, Edward and Louie, reside, the former at Industry and the latter here. The daughters, Mrs. Annie Schrader and Mrs. Louis Rinn, reside at Industry. Mrs. Dr. Beckman, another daughter, lives at Oldenburg, while the other two daughters live in DeWitt county, Mrs. Gus Rinn being a resident of Yoakum, and the other, Mrs. Will Poth, living at Cheapside. All of the above sons and daughters were present at the funeral. Mr. Voelkel and wife and son came to Yoakum a little over six months ago, having previously erected a neat home on East Hill, where they had resided happily ever since. Mr. Voelkel was an honorable and industrious citizen, and by his labor and energy had accumulated enough of the world's goods to enable himself and family to live at ease and in perfect contentment. The remains were laid to rest in the city cemetery Saturday afternoon, Rev. W. Wolfsdorf, of the German Lutheran church, performing the funeral service, and a large number of relatives and friends witnessing the last sad rites. The Times joins with the community in extending the grief-stricken relatives and friends condolence. – Yoakum Times.