Bernadina Bruch

MRS. ANTON BRUCH PASSES AWAY AT HOME SATURDAY

Long and Useful Life Comes to Close at Home Here

A long and useful life came to an end about noon last Saturday, April 2, when Mrs. Anton Bruch, 82 years and 11 months of age, passed peacefully away, at the ranch home near Lusk, surrounded by her husband, sons and daughters.

While Mrs. Bruch has for a number of years been partially invalided because of asthma, yet her death came as a shock to a host of old-time friends in this community, where she had spent the last twenty years of her life. The end came peacefully, seemingly as a fitting end to a beautiful and useful life.

Funeral services were held from St. Leo's Catholic Church in Lusk Monday. Rev. Father Fidelis officiating, arrangements being in charge of the Midwest Mortuary.

Short services were also held at the family home at the Bruch ranch, east of Lusk.

At the church, the impressive requiem high mass was said by Rev. Father Fidelis and the full choir of the church. The church was filled to overflowing with friends and relatives.

The body was laid to rest in the Lusk cemetery, with the Catholic commitment. Pallbearers were F. A. Gradert, John F. Harkin, John Cordell, Ed M. Arnold, Thos. Pfister and Frank A. Barrett.

Mrs. Bruch is survived by her husband, Anton Bruch, almost 90 years old, and her death severs a union which had endured for nearly sixty-two years - with one possibLe exception Mr. and mrs. Bruch having lived together longer than any couple in Niobrara county. Also surviving are Henry Bruch of Sturgis, So. Dak.; Mrs. R. J. Micek, daughter, of Thermopolis; Albert and Carl Bruch of Lusk, and the Misses Elizabeth and Pauline Bruch, who, together with Carl Bruch, make their home at the ranch home. Several grandchildren also survive.

OBITUARY
Bernadina Goedde was born at Sidingham, Westphalen, Germany, on May 2, 1849. At the age of 18 years she embarked on the sailing ship Astronome, intending to land at the port in New York. However, many storms were encountered and the voyage was a stormy one. The little sailing ship was buffeted about by storms in the North Sea and it was two weeks before they finally reached the open sea by way of Windward pass. When finally on the high seas, unfavorable winds were encountered at first and later the ship ran into heavy storms. Several times the ship was in danger of foundering. At one time, Mrs. Bruch related, the ship was struck by a giant wave and thrown over so the masts nearly touched the water. While the ship intended to land at New York, it was blown far south of its course and finally landed at New Orleans.

It took three months to make the voyage, which is now made in a little more than six days. Arriving at New Orleans, the little immigrant girl took passage on a river steamer and went up the Mississippi river to Dubuque, Iowa. In 1870, in company with her sister's family, she migrated to Carroll, Iowa, where, on June 14 of that year she was united in marriage to Anton Bruch.

To this union, enduring for nearly 62 years, twelve children were born, six dying in infancy from the ravages of infant diseases so prevalent at that time, two being buried on the same day. However, together with her husband, she unfalteringly and faithfully carried on, enduring the hardships, trials and tribulations of this early pioneering period with the greatest courage and fortitude. In 1894 the family removed to Antelope County, Neb., where a new farm home was established, and with the same determination they were met with greater fortune.

In 1906, removing to Sturgis, South Dakota, and four years later to the present ranch home near Lusk, where the end came peacefully at 12:35 p.m., Saturday, April 2, 1932, at the age of 82 years and 11 months.

Her husband, together with the remaining children, were present when the end came, except Henry, the eldest son, who resides at Sturgis, S. D., arriving a few hours later.

The great number of friends who attended the last rites, and the profusion of beautiful floral offerings, attested the high esteem in which the deceased was held in the community which witnessed the close of a long and useful life.

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