The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-03-29
WILL BRAASCH SUCCUMBS
LAST SURVIVING SON OF NOR
FOLK PIONEER.
DEATH WAS JUST BEFORE NOON
Norfolk Man Who Went TO Hot
Springs, Ark. In Good Health for a
Pleasure Trip, Taken Suddenly IT,
Passes Away In Few Hours.

vi =, w. bINHNCn Oh lnlN Guy, sue
Cumbcd at 10: 10 O'Clock Saturday fore
noon in Hot Springs, Arkansas, tol
which point he had gone but few
days ago for II pleasure trip. When
he left here, accompanied by Mrs.
Braasch. he was in the best of health
The father in Norfolk, griefstricken
over the sudden loss of his last re.
naming boy, has not yet learned of
the cause of the death, none of the
kilograms that brought the sad story
to this city having contained any hint
as to the nature of Illness.
Taken III Only Friday.
First news of the illness which
proved fatal was received Friday morn
ing In a message that came to- the
father here. The dispatch merely stat.
ed that VIII Braasch was seriously Ill.
A few hours aftcrward another mes.
sage came. bringing the discouraginE
news that he was no better. A telc.
gram received early Saturday morning
stating that the patient was then dy-
ing and might have passed away be
fore the wires could convey even this
brief word, caused the worst to be
feared and those fears were realized
when n bulletin arrived at noon to tell
the parent here that his son had sue
cumbed at 1910 o'clock
Start Home With Remains.
The last telegram announced that
the remains would be brought to Nor
folk Immediately, leaving Hot Springs
at 7:05 O'Clock Saturday evening. 1t
is not known when Mrs. Braasch will
reach Norfolk with the remains of
her husband so that ii is impossible
as yet to make funeral arrangements,
but the funeral services will be con.
Quoted by Rev. j. G. S. Wells and
will be held from the home of the be-
reaved father. 1t Is thought probable
that the services may be either Mon.
day afternoon or Tuesday afternoon
When 1t was realized that death would
likely come, II. G. Matrau started to
Hot Springs but was intercepted by
news that the end had come.
Another Chapter of Sorrow.
The sudden death of his last sur
viving son adds another chapter to a
long story Of sorrow for the father,
G. w. Braasch, a Norfolk pioneer.
A few years ago the Braasch home
was one of the happiest in the city.
Besides the father and mother there
were three splendid young men and
a charming daughter in the household.
They were universally esteemed by
the community. The three sons had
grown to manhood in the city and they
had become business men of unusual
ability. The first to be taken from
the home was Ed Braasch, banker
who had gone to Tilden to engage in
business. Not many months had
elapsed after this before the good wife
became Ill with an attack of gall.
stones and succumbed in an opera
ton But few short days had
passed before the only daughter, Miss
Gertrude Braasch, broken hearted at
her mothers demise, followed into the
world beyond OF the two sons then
surviving, Ralph Braasch was the only
one in Norfolk. VIII was in st. Paul,
Mimi. Long a sufferer from an i'll
ness which he was unable to combat,
Ralph Braasch survived his mother
and sister but a comparatively short
time and last August he, too, passed
away.
His ending left just one more mem.
Der of the family of C. w. Braasch.
This was Will Braasch, then in st.
Paul, but who came to Norfolk at once
with his wife to bring what of comfort
he could into the grief-filled home.
That was seven months ago And
today the remains of this son are be,
ing brought home for burial from the
southland, where he went just a little
while ago for a rest and pleasure trip.
The father to whom this new gloom
has been brought had planned to leave
upon the return of his son, and take a
| trip for his own rest He has no init
nation as to the nature of the illness
which has taken from him this, his
last and eldest son who seemed to be
in perfect health when he went way
Was Born Near Norfolk.
William X. Braasch was born near
Norfolk, on a farm, thirty-five years
ago next July. As young man he
was clerk and assistant cashier in
the Citizens National bank of this city
for twelve years. In 1900 he left Nor
folk for South Omaha, where he hat
secured a position in the Office OF
| Swift a co hackers and later he
moved to st. Paul. where he was en-
gagged in the same line of work unit
last August. For seven months he ha!
been engaged with his father here IL
| the coal business He WAS married