Mary Anna Gerken was born on September 30, 1882, at New Vienna, Iowa, the second of nine children born to Henry and Anna (Winter) Gerken. She and Joseph Fritz were married on January 24, 1905, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in New Vienna, with the Rev. F. W. Pape officiating. After their marriage, Joe and Mary briefly lived at New Vienna before moving to Adrian, Minnesota, circa 1906. In 1919, the family moved to Cresco, Iowa, by train. Joe bought 157-160 acres where they farmed and raised livestock. They were the parents of nine children. They also raised their nephew, John Fritz.
At the time of her death, Mary Anna was survived by her husband, Joe, and 8 children; Armella, age 19; Leo, age 18; Gilbert, age 15; Irma, age 13; Ewald, age 10; Luella, age 8; Edna "Tina," age 6; and Sylvester, age 4, and nephew, Jack, age 22. She was preceded in death by her son, Vincent (d: 1920, age 6).
Mary grew into a tall woman, at close to six feet and with a big build. She had heavy, dark hair and a light complexion. Being a large woman, taking her out of her coffin and laying her on the floor was necessitated. Then they could haul the coffin out of the home sideways, and afterwards carry her out and placed her once again in the coffin. Her hearse, a glass enclosed hearst with fringes, was pulled by a team of horses. Joe Fritz sold oats for 30 cents a bushel to pay for Mary Anna's funeral.
At the time of her death, Mary Anna was survived by her husband, Joe, and 8 children; Armella, age 19; Leo, age 18; Gilbert, age 15; Irma, age 13; Ewald, age 10; Luella, age 8; Edna "Tina," age 6; and Sylvester, age 4, and nephew, Jack, age 22. She was preceded in death by her son, Vincent (d: 1920, age 6).
Mary grew into a tall woman, at close to six feet and with a big build. She had heavy, dark hair and a light complexion. Being a large woman, taking her out of her coffin and laying her on the floor was necessitated. Then they could haul the coffin out of the home sideways, and afterwards carry her out and placed her once again in the coffin. Her hearse, a glass enclosed hearst with fringes, was pulled by a team of horses. Joe Fritz sold oats for 30 cents a bushel to pay for Mary Anna's funeral.
Mary Anna Gerken was born on September 30, 1882, at New Vienna, Iowa, the second of nine children born to Henry and Anna (Winter) Gerken. She and Joseph Fritz were married on January 24, 1905, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in New Vienna, with the Rev. F. W. Pape officiating. After their marriage, Joe and Mary briefly lived at New Vienna before moving to Adrian, Minnesota, circa 1906. In 1919, the family moved to Cresco, Iowa, by train. Joe bought 157-160 acres where they farmed and raised livestock. They were the parents of nine children. They also raised their nephew, John Fritz.
At the time of her death, Mary Anna was survived by her husband, Joe, and 8 children; Armella, age 19; Leo, age 18; Gilbert, age 15; Irma, age 13; Ewald, age 10; Luella, age 8; Edna "Tina," age 6; and Sylvester, age 4, and nephew, Jack, age 22. She was preceded in death by her son, Vincent (d: 1920, age 6).
Mary grew into a tall woman, at close to six feet and with a big build. She had heavy, dark hair and a light complexion. Being a large woman, taking her out of her coffin and laying her on the floor was necessitated. Then they could haul the coffin out of the home sideways, and afterwards carry her out and placed her once again in the coffin. Her hearse, a glass enclosed hearst with fringes, was pulled by a team of horses. Joe Fritz sold oats for 30 cents a bushel to pay for Mary Anna's funeral.
At the time of her death, Mary Anna was survived by her husband, Joe, and 8 children; Armella, age 19; Leo, age 18; Gilbert, age 15; Irma, age 13; Ewald, age 10; Luella, age 8; Edna "Tina," age 6; and Sylvester, age 4, and nephew, Jack, age 22. She was preceded in death by her son, Vincent (d: 1920, age 6).
Mary grew into a tall woman, at close to six feet and with a big build. She had heavy, dark hair and a light complexion. Being a large woman, taking her out of her coffin and laying her on the floor was necessitated. Then they could haul the coffin out of the home sideways, and afterwards carry her out and placed her once again in the coffin. Her hearse, a glass enclosed hearst with fringes, was pulled by a team of horses. Joe Fritz sold oats for 30 cents a bushel to pay for Mary Anna's funeral.
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