OLTROGGE OBITUARY
April 28, 1920 Grossmutter Oltrogge Grandmother Oltrogge was born in Wiersen, Kur-Schaumburg, Hessen in Germany on September 16, 1837 as the daughter of Christian Boedecker and his wife Wilhelmine born Spangenberg. Soon aftr her birth she was baptised and after good Christian instruction, she was confirmed in Aplen. She was deeply impressed by her Confirmation and the instruction that accompanied it, and she remained true to it. She came with her parents and six siblings to America in 1853. Her seventh sibling had come earlier. They arrived in New York and then traveled westward, where the family settled in Cook County, Illinois. After two years, in 1855, she married Friedrich Oltrogge, and she came with him to Bremer County, Iowa. They settled on a farm in Maxfield Township, west of Readlyn. God blessed the marriage with four children, three of whom are still living. The departed was a member of our sister community in Maxfield for many years and took active part in it. Her husband died after 48 long years of marriage on November 21, 1903. Her health was not good in the early years, but she seemed to be better. In her latter years, she visibly suffered as the result of a stroke and three others that came later. So she was asked to bear a heavy cross, and the increasing weaknesses of age brought troubles and fragility, so that her children had to take care and be patient. We say today at her coffin, that her children stood at the side of their fragile mother. She was an assiduous churchgoer and well grounded in God's word. She was often among those who sought out Communion. Because of her fragility, she had not been to church in a long time. She received Communion in March. Last Thursday, she suddenly had a stroke and lost consciousness until the end, which was the evening of the same day. Thus the Good Shepherd took his true believer home, after she had waited so trustingly. She is survived by three children: Minna Boevers, Sophia Blasberg and Anna Hagenow; one sister, Mrs. Heinrich Meyer of Waverly, Iowa; 19 grandchildren, and 40 great grandchildren. She was 82 years, 6 months, and 29 days old. The burial was in Readlyn on last Sunday afternoon, with Pastor Kumpf officiating. She rests in peace, and the eternal light illuminates her.

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