Obit: Firnstahl, Peter (1882 - 1906)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: FIRNSTAHL

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 12/20/1906

Firnstahl, Peter (13 SEP 1882 - 19 DEC 1906)

Peter Firnstahl died at the home of his parents in the town of Hull, Marathon Co., Wis., Wednesday evening, Dec. 19th, 1906, at 5:30 o’clock, in the twenty-fourth year of his age.

Peter had been a patient sufferer from that dread disease, consumption, for several years, and although his death had been hourly expected the past few days, the announcement last evening came like a shock to us all. The sorrowing family is not alone in their grief, we all mourn with them.

The funeral will be held from St. Mary’s Church, Saturday morning at 10 o’clock, Rev. Wm. Reding officiating.

(Follow on in 12/27/1906 Colby Phonograph)

Peter Firnstahl, whose death was chronicled last week, had been in poor health for two years. In the Spring of 1905 he went with the advice of his physician to Colorado Springs, accompanied by his brother Gehrman, in the hope of benefiting his health, but returned after a few weeks unimproved. Still he did not perceptibly begin to fail till the Fall of the same year. During the Winter he was confined to the house but in the Spring of this year he improved sufficiently to be around all Summer. With the cold weather, however, he failed gradually till death relieved him of his suffering, Wednesday, Dec. 19, being 24 years of age since Sept. 13.

The funeral was held from St. Mary’s Church Saturday morning at 10 o’clock. At an early hour the friends and acquaintances gathered at the residence of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Firnstahl. The funeral procession headed by the Catholic Foresters, left the residence at 9:30. The Pastor, Rev. W. Reding, met the corpse at the entrance to the church and accompanied it to the sanctuary. At either side of the bier were three large candelabra with burning candles, symbols of faith, on the casket a crucifix, the sign of redemption, a Forester badge, of which order he was a charter member, and flowers presented by the Foresters and other friends.

Every seat in the church was occupied by members of the congregation and friends of the deceased. The front pews to the right of the middle aisle were occupied by the immediate family of the deceased, to the left were other relatives, some of whom had come from afar. Immediately after on either side were seated the Catholic Foresters. The high esteem in which the young man was held was indicated by the remarkable large attendance.