Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-02-03
DEATH OF G. o. VlEBAHN.
Expires Last Night After Brief Illness
A Prominent Young Man.

"A Prominent Young Man.
Gustav O. Viebahn, only son of
Prof. G. L. Viebahn, city superin-
tendent of schools, died at 1890
o'clock last evening at the family
home, 7O3 Western avenue, Of typhoid
fever.
No personally sadder event has it
been within the writer's province to
chronicle than that borne in the few
lines just penned The death thus
recorded implies to US, as it does to
many OF our acquaintance, the break
ing asunder OF a very intimate, agree
able companionship that had been
cherished from boyhood days. 1t
means the loss of true, manly friend
one whose condolences were freely
sought and whose counsel was es-
teemed. 1t means that society is be-
reft of an intelligent, popular member
and that the set to which he was close
ly associated loses one of it's leading
spirits. The effect is all this outside
the home circle, but there it is far
more. The loss of an only son, kind,
affectionate and considerate as was
the departed, is an irreparable one to
the fond father, who in his great af-
Fiction has the heartfelt sympathy of
the community.
1t was only week ago last Satur-
day that Gustav arrived home from
Madison, where he was taking the law
course in the state university. For
two weeks previous to that he had
been troubled with walking typhoid"
a mild form of typhoid fever, and he
came home on the advice of Madison
physicians. Up to last Friday his case
was not considered serious, although
his temperature remained quite high.
On that day, however, his condition
changed for the worse, peritonitis
setting in. He steadily sank and yes
terday he was given up by the physi-
clans in attendance, Drs. Field and
Whyte. The end came sooner than
expected. He passed away quietly,
pain.
The deceased was born in Sank
City, November 20, 1869, having
therefore just entered his 2Sth year.
Early in life he removed with his
parents to Manitowoc, which contin-
ued his residence until the family
located here in 1881. Gustav received
his fundamental education in the pub
lie schools of this city, graduating
from the high school with the class of
1888. Following this he took the
civil engineering course at the Uni
versity of Wisconsin, finishing in June,
1898. In the fall of the same year he
was elected city engineer of Water
town by the common council, which
position he continued to fill with the
utmost efficiency and satisfaction until
last September, when he resigned IN
order to commence his law studies.
These he entered upon with earnest
ness and industry, intending, by hard
study and work during vacations, to
shorten three-years' course into two
years. But his well-laid plans have
been nipped in the bud by the Grim
Destroyer and he has been called
hence just as a most promising and
useful career had begun.
Mr.. Viebahn was member of Lin
coin lodge, No. 20, Knights of Pythias,
and during the past year served as
master of finance of that organization.
He also was an active member of the
High School Alumni association, of
which he had often been an officer.
The funeral will be held Friday af-
ternoon at the family residence. The
remains will be inferred in Oak Hill
cemetery beside those OF a dear
mother, who died in August, 1898.
To our conscience Gust or "Govie,
as he was Familiarity known, was all
that was desirable in a warm friend.
| A young man of excellent education
and possessing a fine perception of
matters in general, he was above the
average in the way of companionship
and was ever ready to take intelligent
issue in discussion. He was a per-
son of firm convictions and a strong
advocate of what he considered the
right under all circumstances. While
naturally of q retiring mien, when
once he became well known to you his
friendship was of the lasting kind and
that which is most sought. No one
possessed a bigger heart than he, or
was more generous and kindly, and
we venture the assertion that in the
particular circle in which he moved
he had no equal in general popularity.
There was not speck of revengeful
spirit in him and he was at all times
dignifed, reserved and conservative,
at the same time congenial and jolly.
His untimely death is sincerely re-
GREETED here, as well as in many other
places where he counted his friends.
We do a money loaning, insur-
ance and real estate business.
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