Louis and Adelhide (Gerken) Tegeler

Adelhide Herm. Domita Gerken was born on July 5, 1878, on the Gerken homestead east of Dyersville, Iowa, the first of seven children born to William and Elizabeth (Sudmeier) Gerken. Her siblings were John, Frank, Henry, Leo, Rudy, and Molly. Their mother Elizabeth died when Addie was ten years old, and her father William subsequently married Carolina Wuebbelt, and they had six children, Bill, Laura, Oscar, Thecla, Ludwig, and Oliva.

Addie Gerken grew to womanhood in the Dyersville vicinity and received her education in the rural schools and at the St. Francis Xavier high school. in Dyersville.

JOINED IN WEDLOCK IN ST. FRANCIS CHURCH.
Marriage of Mr. Louis Tegeler and Miss Addie Gerken Solemnized.
A pretty church wedding took place last Wednesday morning, May 27, 1903, at St. Francis Xavier Church in Dyersville, Iowa. The contracting parties were Mr. Louis Tegeler and Miss Addie Gerken. Reverend Father William Kunkel of Muscatine, Iowa, cousin of the bride, performed the ceremony. They were attended by Miss Antonette Tegeler as bridesmaid, and Mr. John Gerken acted in the capacity of best man.

After nuptial mass had been celebrated, the wedding party repaired to the home of the bride's parents east of Dyersville, where a pleasant reception was held to which the relatives and a large number of friends were invited. The day was spent at various amusements and a delicious wedding dinner was served. The young couple were presented with many presents as tokens of esteem and were showered with the well wishes of their friends.

The young couple represent two of Dyersville's most highly respected families. The bride was described as being of "pleasant disposition and wins friends wherever she goes." The groom, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Tegeler, was described as being "an honest and industrious young man of good habits and sterling character and enjoys the confidence of all who know him." At the time of the wedding, he had held a position as clerk in the store of J.H. Weidert for a number of years. The Dyersville Commercial joined their friends in extending their best wishes.

Louis (or Aloysius/Alois) G. Tegeler was a son of Henry and Ann (Burkle) Tegeler. Louis, commonly called "Louie," and Addie Tegeler first established their home in Dyersville, Iowa, and Mr. Tegeler engaged in the butcher business, which was later owned by Frank Schroeder. Circa 1905 Mr. and Mrs. Tegeler moved to Nashua, Iowa. There Louie engaged in business as a blacksmith, and for a time was in business with his brothers-in-law, Frank J. Gerken and Henry H. Gerken.

MRS. ALOIS TEGELER DIED AT NASHUA, IA.
Death Claimed Her at 2:45 o'clock Sunday--Funeral Wednesday.
Death claimed Mrs. Alois Tegeler, née Adelhide Gerken, at her home in Nashua, Iowa, Sunday afternoon, August 30, 1936, at 2:45 o'clock, following a long period of illness of about 20 years, neuritis and complications being the cause of her demise.

Four of her children survive. They are Oliver, Leah (Mrs. Guy Carpenter), Luma, and Ivo at home. Ermin preceded her in death in 1927. She is also survived by the following brothers and sisters: His Excellency, Archbishop R.A. Gerken of Santa Fe, N. Mex; Frank, Henry, Mollie (Mrs. Ben Willenborg), Laura (Mrs. Ed Klostermann), all of Dyersville, Ia.; William of Worthington, Ia.; Thecla (Mrs. Clem Bruggeman) of Petersburg, Ia.; Oscar of Happy, Texas; Ludwig of Ray Springs, Texas; and Olive (Mrs. J. Janssen) of Umbarger, Texas. Two brothers, Rev. Father Leo Gerken and Mr. John Gerken, preceded her in death.

Mrs. Tegeler was a woman of many noble traits of character. During her long period of illness she bore her sufferings with patience and resignation. Her home life was ideal and her thoughts were always centered in her home. She was active in church work, when her health permitted it. Many deeds of kindness were performed by her and in many instances, unknown to anyone but the recipient. She was highly respected by all who knew her. Heartfelt sympathy is extended to the sorrowing husband and children in the loss of their loved one.

The funeral took place at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Nashua on Wednesday morning, September 2, at 9 o'clock. His Excellency Archbishop Gerken sung the requiem high mass. Interment was made in the family plot in the Catholic cemetery in Nashua.

Louis Tegeler dies.
Alois G. Tegeler died on June 25, 1955. He survived his wife by nearly 21 years. Services were held at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Nashua, Iowa, and he was buried beside his wife in the church cemetery.

Children of Louis and Adelhide "Addie" (Gerken) Tegeler:

Sources include an account of the marriage and the obituary for Addie (Gerken) Tegeler from the Dyersville Commercial; A Family Tree of the William Gerken Family (1986) updated by Sister Margaret Gerken; and other sources as noted within the text.

© 2000-09 Tom Larson P.O. Box 141 Peosta, IA 52068-0141 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tdlarson/gerken/william/addie.htm Last revised February 22, 2009.