Funeral services for Mrs Mary Gilg will be May 28, 1970 at St Joseph Church. Burial will be in St Joseph Cem. May 25,1970 death came to this Atkinson pioneer woman who was born in the years when sod houses and new railroads were to become memories throughout her years.
Mary Tushla Gilg was born Oct 24,1881 in a sod house 3 miles northeast of Atkinson, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Odstell Tushla, who just that year had immigrate to this country from Czechoslovakia.
She grew to womanhood in this community and on May 10,1905, was married to Edward Gilg at St Joseph Church. They lived on a farm homesteaded by Mr Gilg 10 miles southeast of Atkinson, where a son, Clarence, now lives. 10 children were born to this couple, 7 sons, 3 daughters.
The eldest son, Edward, died from leukemia at the age of 4. Her husband, Edward died on July 2,1928. Also preceding her in death were her parents, 3 brothers, Peter, John and Sylvester Tushla, 1 sister Mrs Rose Keating.
She is survived by sons, Ivan, Clarence, Francis, John Woodrow and Roy, of Atkinson, R Daniel of Omaha, daughters Mrs Clark A (Rose) Hough of Burlington, Wash, Mrs Harry (Marcella) Van Fleet of Atkinson, Mrs Laurence (Mary Ellen ) Kaup of Atkinson.
She is survived by 32 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, sister Mrs Anna Keating.
Mrs Gilg enjoyed good health until last Jan 15, after which she had been hospitalized 3 weeks prior to her death.
A great lover of the outdoors, she was noted for her flowers and garden produce, plants and beautifully landscaped yards both on the farm and in town.
Mrs Gilg was a member of St Joseph’s Altar Society and the American Legion Auxillary and worked actively many years in both organizations.
During the winter months, her hobby was sewing, embroidery, making aprons and stuffed animals and stick horses. Many bazaars profited from her numerous items of handicraft, to make “something out of nothing” was her motto.
Although she was left a widow early in her married life and left with 9 children, ages 3 to 20, she stayed on the farm where she raised her family. Though she had only a grade school education, she believed in higher education for her children and made every effort to give them as much as possible.
During WWII, when 4 of her sons were in the armed forces, she was forced to leave the farm and move to town where she since has made her home.