Several Homes Saddened by Death

The grim reaper of death was with us the past week and took from local homes loved ones who were called beyond to their eternal resting places. Three elderly people were summoned by the creator and were Mrs. Pauline Merkling, Frank Otremba and Henry Gassert, the latter who was preceded by the death of his wife only ten days before his passing away.

Henry Gassert

The people of the village were grieved Saturday afternoon when it was learned that Henry Gassert, prominent citizen of this village had answered the call of his creator. The deceased was confined to his home by illness the past twelve months with signs of improvements at intervals, although the hope for his entire recovery were not fulfilled. Heart failure and myocorditis were given the cause of his passing away. Death came at about 12:45 P.M. Saturday at his home here, and it is said death was hastened by the death of Mrs. Gassert who died ten days before.

Mr. Gassert was born in Davenport, Iowa, on July 25, 1858. On April 25, 1878, his marriage to Miss Louisa Densch took place at Pierz, after which Mr. and Mrs. Gassert settled on a farm near Lastrup. The Gasserts were very successful farmers and about 14 years ago came to this village to retire and built a neat home here to live for the rest of their lives. At his death Mr. Gassert was 67 years of age.

He was a director in the Pierz State bank and vice president of the First State Bank of Genola. He was elected treasurer of school district No. 36 in 1880 and held the position nine years. Later he was elected to township supervisor. After serving in town office for 15 years he was elected county commissioner in 1910 succeeding Peter Virnig, who died in office. Mr. Gassert was a county officer until 1924.

The ten children surviving him are: Mrs. Barney Faust, Buh; Mrs. George L. Boser, Buckman; Mrs. Joe Brausen, Buckman; Mrs. John A. Virnig, Granite; Mrs. Nick J. Meyer, Pierz, Fred Gassert, Little Falls; John Gassert, Moose Lake and Henry, Edward and Louis Gassert of Pierz. Two children are dead.

A sister, Mrs. Thomas Evans of Brainerd, and a brother, Louis Gassert of Winona, were here to attend the funeral. A sister, Mrs. Lillian Schildwho lives in Florida, could not be located.

The burial service were held in St. Joseph's church here yesterday morning at 10 o'clock and interment followed in the Pierz cemetery.

Pierz Journal February 18, 1926