Obit: Gau, Ferdinand (1845 - 1932)

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Surnames: GAU GUENTHER BLISH LULLOFF RASMUSSEN BROTHERTON JOHNSON ZARNKE ADERHOLD BRILL FORBISH KANTER GRAVITS REICHENBURG

----Sources: COLBY PHONOGRAPH (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 18 Feb 1932

Gau, Ferdinand (22 Nov. 1845 - 12 Feb. 1932)

Ferdinand Gau passed away Friday evening at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Anna Guenther, in the town of Hull, old age being the cause of his departure to the distant shore. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Colby M. E. church, Rev. F. M. Blish officiating, and, on Wednesday morning, the remains were taken by F. W. Lulloff, funeral director, to Sheboygan for internment. Rev. Blish also accompanied the bereaved family to Sheboygan.

The pall bearers were Chas. Rasmussen, Ted Brotherton, John Johnson, Wm. Zarnke, Chas. Aderhold and Wm. J. Brill. The flower girls were Mrs. Chas. Rasmussen, Mrs. Henry Forbish, Mrs. Herbert Kanter and Miss Millie Aderhold.

The deceased was born in Greshow, Germany, a son of John and Johanna Gau, on November 22, 1845, thus reaching the age of eighty-six years, two months and twenty-one days. He was married in Germany to Mary Gravits in 1868 to which union one son, Herman, was born but Mrs. Gau died at the time. Two years later, he married a second time, this time to Frieda Reichenburg, also in Germany. He lived with his second wife for twenty-three years but she also preceded him to the great beyond. Three children were born to this union, two of whom preceded their parents in death. He came to the United States with his family in 1872 and settled in Sheboygan where he lived for fourteen years when they moved to Webster, S.D., and resided there for two years after which he moved to the town of Hull. His departure is also mourned by thirteen grand children and ten great grand children.

The deceased was a man of good Christian habits, fine moral character, sturdy constitution, and, like all early pioneers, was a man of generous impulses. He had passed his golden wedding day and had filled the various relations of life, as son, husband, father, brother, friend and filled them well. His life work was done, and well done.