Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-08-01
DEATH OF FRED HENCKE.
Remains Brought Here From Cali
fOrnia Last Monday.

The remains of Fred Helcke, who
passed away in Los Angeles on June
%, were brought here Monday, and
the funeral services were conducted
yesterday afternoon from the under
taking parlors of the DEBORAH Furni-
ture Co. DR.. H. H. Green officiated.
The deceased was born in the Pro-
vince of Hanover, Germany, on Jan.
Is, 1880, and died at the advanced
age of 81 years, 5 months and II
days. Mr.. Hencke came to the Unit
ed States in 1850, settling at Milwau-
kee. Later he removed to McGregor,
engaging in the mercantile business.
From McGregor he came to DEBORAH
in 1871 and resumed his former oc-
cupation on the West Side in the
building later occupied by Mr.. Emil
Rosenthal, who carried on the bust
ness left by him. From DEBORAH he
removed to Duluth, Mimi, where he
lived number of years and a few
years ago he went to Los Angeles to
make his home. In 1856 he was
married at Dubuque to Miss Wilhel-
nina Bandow, who passed away a
few years ago and was buried in
Phelps cemetery in this city. They
were the parents of two children,
Fred w. Hencke, of Duluth, and
Mrs. Ida NJ Barthel, of Ann Arbor,
Mich, both of whom were here to
mother the body of their aged faith
err Mr.. Hencke was man who
bore the respect and esteem of all
who ever had the pleasure of his ac-
quaintance. He was good citizen,
Ia kind father and loving husband,
and the sympathy of many friends is
extended to the bereaved children in
their loss.
Mr.. Hencke's career as merchant
was a source of satisfaction and even
of just pride ever afterwards, and
his name was synonym of honesty,
integrity, and honest dealing.
Added to large and comperhen-
sive knowledge of men and affairs, he
possessed a mind remarkably we'll
balanced With rapid powers of OBJ
servation; he was earnest and honest
il all he did, and kept in his heart al
ways, large place for the affections
of his family and friends.
He was unpretending and exemp-
larry in his personal habits and enjoy
ed his home, his family, the society of
his wife, children and friends.
Grateful hearts remember acts of
kindness, and there are many who,
but for help and aid from Mr..
Hencke, would now be weary aud dis
heartened, and men now prominent
in life, admit their obligations to THAI
noble friend.
He forgave as he hoped to be for
given, and kept no malice in his heart
for any man on earth. His was the
religion of humanity. He believed
that the man who helped his fellow
men was doing Gods service. His
life was moulded upon this faith. If
there be one soul at whose approach
the pearly gates of the celestial city
shall open widest and offer free en-
trance to its eternal glories, surely it
must be the one who in its LIE on
earth strove hardest to aid the weak,
to shelter the defenseless, to tighten
the burdens Of the heavy laden, and
who brought the most smiles and
fewest tears into this world.
He died quietly and easily, with
out a struggle, and was conscious to
within few hours of his death.
Goods finger touched him, and he
slept" as
1t can be said of him as of the poet,
Burns:
ITO live il hearts we leave behind,
is not to die"