DuQuoIn - August 19, 1906

Funeral of Mr. Schleper

The funeral service of Mr. F J Schleper was conducted at the Sacred Hearty Catholic Church yesterday morning at high mass, 9 o'clock and the seating capacity, with all of the available chairs from the school hall, was largely over crowded. All who could find room stood in the vestibule and passage ways and some were compelled to remain outside of the large auditorium and building.

High mass was celebrated by out-of-town clergymen entirely, Rev Father Klocke being weak physically. Rev Joseph Schneider of Pinckneyville officiated as celebrant, Rev J. H. Bruns of Centralia as deacon and Rev C. Goels of Cobden as sub-deacon.

The funeral discourse was delivered by the pastor, notwithstanding his weakened condition by illness, he chose as his text Rev 14:13 "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. From henceforth now saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors for their works follow them." Rev Klocke has been associated with the deceased more, perhaps, than anyone else, being his pastor for the past 42 years. He had nothing but words of praise for Mr. Schleper from the first to the last of that 42 years. He was a good businessman but best of all the pastor declares he was one of those described in his text, preparing for the last hour by looking after the salvation of his immortal soul. Rev Klocke could not speak long owing to his physical weakness, but what words he spoke were words of a loving pastor over the remains of a much beloved parishioner, tender and true.

There was a large profusion of flowers, one of the largest and handsomest wreathes being a costly presentation by the DuQuoin, DuQuoin merchants in which fraternity he was a highly esteemed brother. There were eighty carriages in line as the funeral cortege left the Church, the largest in DuQuoin, DuQuoin in many years.

Those present from out of the city were: Mr. and Mrs Clem Schleper of Teutopolis, Mr. and Mrs Anton Schleper of Effingham, Mr. and Mrs Peter Koestner of Teutopolis, Mr. and Mrs John Repking of Bishop, Frank Masquelet of Chicago, Mrs Clem Uptmor of Teutopolis, Mrs Henry Greisedick and Mrs C. N Fries of St Louis, Joe Seamer of Teutopolis, Clem Hoffman and John Busse of Effingham, Joe Rechtine and Mrs Frank Schnetz of Teutopolis, Mrs Anna Meyer of Chicago, Joe Rennold of East St Louis, Henry Borgsmiller and Wm Kordt of Murphysboro, Mr. and Mrs Chas Knetzger and Louis Knetzger of Peoria, AA Sar of DuBois, Fr Kohn of Centralia, Wm Thill of Tamaroa, Fred Ulrich, John Bishop and son, Wm Bry, Chas Guemalley and Rev J Schneider of Pinckneyville, Rev J H Bruns of Centralia and Rev C Goels of Cobden.