The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1927-06-16
GRIM REAPER CALLS
THE OLD; THE YOUNG
John Watcher, Venerable
Citizen, Passed Away
Sunday Evening
FUNERAL ON TUESDAY
Vance Christensen, Young
Man Of "a, Died Early
Wednesday Morning
John Watcher

Sunday evening June IL, 1927
at $3.50 o'clock occurred the death
of John Watcher, aged citizen of
Sank Centre and pioneer of Mimi
esota. For the past few years the
deceased suffered from compli-
cation of diseases which grew
steadily worse until death relieved
him of his affliction.
Mr.. Watcher was born in Vain,
Laubheim, Wurtenberg, Germany,
April 26, 1843. He grew to man
hood in his native country and on
Nov. 26, 1866 entered wedlock.
In 1878 he and his wife came to
America settling at Richmond,
Mimi. On April 23rd., of the same
year they moved to Lake George
and later to Wahpeton, N. D.. At
these places he was engaged in
farming. From Wahpeton the fam
ily moved to Sank Centre where
they operated a hotel known as
the Eastern House on the site one
block east of the Main Street Oil
Station and which for many years
stood as an old land mark TO be
remembered by many of the eld-
erly citizens of today.
Following the disposal of the
hotel the family moved to Melrose
where they resided for seven
years returning again to Sank
Centre and making their home
permanently.
The venerable couple have been
desirable residents of this city for
the past Ia years. To the union
were born IA children, four of
whom died in infancy; the sur
viving ten being reared to SPLEEN
did manhood and womanhood.
They are: Mrs. Susan Cheney
and Mrs. Rose Desmond both of
st. Paul; B. j. Watcher of Mimi
eapolis; Frank Watcher of Evans
ton, ILL.,; Rev. James Watcher of
st. Augusta; Mrs. Mary Zent-
quot and John Watcher of Wahpe-
ton, N. D. Charles Watcher and
Mrs. John Stump both of Bismark,
N. D. and Mrs. ]. B. Schoenhoff
of this city.
The deceased was a devout
Catholic and an active member of
st. Paul's parish attending church
faithfully as long as his health
would permit. He was also men,
Der of the Catholic Order of For
esters.
Funeral services were conducted
at st. Paul's Catholic church of
this city on Tuesday morning,
June IA, at 900 o'clock. The
clergy escorted the remains from
the home on north Pine street to
the church. The rites Of Solemn
Requiem were delivered with Rev.
James Watcher, son of the de-
ceased as Celebrant; Rev. Joseph
Wessendorf of Little Falls, dea-
con; Rev. William Kenner of Alex
andria, Sub-deacon; Rev. Anthony
Art of this city, master of cere-
monies. In the sanctuary was the
very Rev. Joseph Willenbrink of
Melrose, Rev. Francis Welp of
Greenwali, Rev. V. Schiele of
Grey Eagle and Rev. DIR. Joseph
Woluer of Columbus, Ohio. Fol-
lowing the Requiem Mass Rev.
ART preached an eloquent sermon
in German in which he emphasized
the fact that never before in the
history of the parish was there a
coincidence in which priest read
his first Mass and conducted the
funeral services of his father, as
did Rev. James Watcher at st.
Paul's Church.
The pail bearers were Frank
Unger, Ben Vogel, John Mond-
loch, Joseph Thielen, Joseph Sauer
and August lilies. Cross Bearer,
Peter Simmer. The remains were
laid to rest in st. Paul's Gene
terry.
The out of town relatives and
friends who attended the funeral
were Mrs. Susan Cheney and
Mrs. Rose Desmond of st. Paul
b. ]. Watcher of Minneapolis,
Frank Watcher of Evanston, ILL.,,
Rev. James Watcher of st. Au-
gusta, Mrs. Mary Zentquof of
Wahpeton, N. D.; Mr.. and Mrs.
John Watcher and children of
Wahpeton N. D.; Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Watcher, and Mr.. and Mrs.
John Stump and son all of Bis
mark, N D.; Mr.. and Mrs. Nick
Schmid and Mrs. John Schmith
all of Wahpeton, N. D.; Miss Rose
Krocker and a friend of Melrose,
Misses Anna, Agnes and Catherine
Haunen of Melrose, Mr.. and Mrs.
Nick Lessor of Paynesville, Mrs.
John Weudeauer of Regal, Rev.
Father Killion Of Melrose and
James Aheson and sister of Mel
rose.
Vance M. christensen
The community was severely
shocked and cast into mourning
when word spread about the city