----Source: WEEKLY CLARION (Dorchester, Clark Co., WI) 02/12/1926

Brecke, Mary (9 APR 1849 - 4 Feb 1926)

Mrs. Mary Brecke was born in Norway April 9th, 1849 and at the age of nine years came, with her parents, to the United States, immediately proceeding to Wisconsin where they settled in Waupaca Co. On Sept. 30th, 1873, she was joined in holy wedlock with Edward O. Brecke, her faithful helpmate, who died July 4th, 1922. Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brecke lived on a farm east of Wausau, then they resided at Abbotsford for a short time, and from 1878 to 1921 lived on the homestead two miles north and two miles east of this village (Dorchester, Clark County, Wis.). The last four years of her life were spent with her son Edmund, only a few blocks from the old homestead in the town of Holton.

Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brecke of which number seven are still living. Those surviving their mother are: Edmund, Martin, Mrs. Schafer, William, John, Hilmer, and Mrs. T. Berg.

About two weeks ago Mrs. Brecke met with an accident here in the village, falling on an ice covered sidewalk and dislocating her hip, and never fully recovered from the accident.

She died Fe. 4th, 1926 at 10:30 in the morning at the age of 76 years, 9 months and 25 days, death being caused by a stroke of paralysis.

She leaves to mourn her death, her seven children, a number of grandchildren, and many other relatives.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the home and St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Rev. V. M. Keiper officiating. Interment was made in the Norwegian Cemetery north of town.

Her five sons, Edmund, Martin, John, Hilmer, and William, and son-in-law, Tom H. Berg, acted as pallbearers and all ceremonies were under the watchful care of undertaker Fuchsgruber.

Mrs. Brecke was of the pioneer stock that, one by one, are silently slipping away to be seen no more. They were the backbone of our nation, fine, true, God-fearing people who have made Wisconsin the garden it is.

Mrs. Brecke was truly this for she never lost cheer and inspired those about her to better deeds and she will live on in the hearts of those she loved.

Out of town relatives present at the funeral services were Mr. and Mrs. Carl Trinrud, Walter Trinrud, Mrs. Carl Larson, Miss Nora Hartwig, and Mrs. Otto Olson, all of Waupaca; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jensen of Wis. Rapids; Gust Edstrom of Merrill; Charles Hermanson of Spencer, and Mrs. Anna Brecke of Gilman.

We join the friends in offering sympathy to those bereaved and remind them of the joyous meeting in the "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere."