Fred W Kropp Obituary

THE STATE HERALD, Holyoke, Phillips, Colorado
J.H. Painter, Editor and Publisher
 
4 Dec 1908, Friday, Vol. 22 - No. 19 (Says 6 Dec on newspaper) Holyoke Cemetery
AMHERST
 
Fred Kropp, after a long illness, passed away last Sunday. His many friends mourn his departure and extend their sympathy to the bereaved wife and children.
 
IN MEMORIAM
 Fred W. Kropp was born at Brownstown, Jackson County, Indiana June 26, 1868. At the age of 19 years he left the old home going to Kansas where he stayed one year, then went to Pierce County, Nebraska where he married Miss Anna Petau in 1892.
 
 About two years ago he settled on a homestead near Amherst, Colorado and built the new home where they were happy till the shadow entered. Mr. Kropp had not known what sickness or ill health was until after fighting fire near Amherst on January 10th he seemed to feel badly and after February 1, gradually grew worse. On July 28 his wife took him to a hospital at Omaha, Nebraska, where an operation was performed for the purpose of removing the cause of the stomach trouble from which he was suffering. The operation was unsuccessful, but still hoping that he might be cured he was taken to a hospital at Lincoln after trying some of the doctors at Friend, Nebraska and other places, but all efforts were vain for it seemed that medical skill could not cure him. he came back from Lincoln, Nebraska to his home September 12th and tho all efforts to cure him had been unsuccessful, he still had hope and fought bravely for his life nor gave up hope until a few days before his death when he knew there was not the shadow of a hope. He said to some of his neighbors “I have battled as long as I can, I can bear it no longer, I will never get up.”
Fred Kropp was of a happy disposition and life was sweet to him, he did not want to die for he had much to live for, but when he found there was no hope, he faced death with such courage and bravery and even to the end was so patient and kind to all around him that tho it was so sad a place to be, yet those who were there felt that they would not have missed the beautiful lesson his death had taught them. Not long before the end came his wife said “I shall always feel that you are with me.” and he said “That is the way I want you to feel.” God was with them all in those last sad days.
To the loving wife and children there are two consoling thoughts - he will suffer no more and they know his soul is with God. This will help to sustain them in the dark hours of the future. They will be so glad now to feel that all was done that could be done to save his life and alleviate his sufferings, and they know that he died like the brave true man
that he was and will wait to meet them. It was not the family alone who shed tears of sorrow at his untimely death for there was no lack of sympathy and those who knew the family could feel and know how great would be the loss of so kind a husband and father and how lonely and sad the new home would be which he had built on the plains of Colorado far from the dear old mother who prayed each day that God would spare her boy.
 
 Mr. Kropp died Sunday morning November 22, 1908, was 40 years old last June. He leaves a wife, three
daughters, four sons, his mother at Brownstown, Indiana, a sister at Indianapolis, three brothers two of whom attended the funeral. Mrs. Kropp’s father and one of her sisters who reside here, share the grief and loneliness of the stricken family. Two of Mrs. Kropp’s sisters arrived a few hours too late for the funeral. A short service in the English language was held at the house. The beautiful hymn, Abide With Me” was sung after which the Rev. William O. Leitz in a few chosen and appropriate words spoke consolation to the bereaved family and friends of the deceased. The body was then removed to the Baptist church at Holyoke where a German service was conducted by Re. W.O. Leitz, his chosen text being Gen. 48-21 after which the body was laid to rest in the Holyoke cemetery.
 
On the plains of Colorado, in a sweet new home one day
Came a shadow dark and lonely, and this shadow came to stay.
 Casting gloom upon the inmates, of this little home so dear
Growing darker coming closer, till it filled their hearts with fear.
Then the husband and the father, he so brave and kind and true
Bravely fought this foe to conquer, but each day it darker grew.
 In a dream he saw this phantom, fought it, heard its awful cry
Ere the coming of the new year, you or I will have to die.
How the dear wife’s heart was saddened, when to her the dream was told
Then she helped him fight the battle, sparing neither strength nor gold.
How they fought and how they suffered, none but God will ever know,
But at last death’s shadow conquered, and there lies beneath the snow
A brave heart, a loving comrade, but his spirit is at rest
And he’s waiting for his loved ones, where they’ll meet among the blest
He rests at last and tho death early came and called for him to go,
There clings the sweetest memories round his name to those who loved him so.
Those dear ones left behind will not forget, they long for you each day;
God grant you’ll meet and all be happy yet, on heaven’s shining way.
-- M. Mable Evans
 
CARD OF THANKS
Words cannot express the grateful thanks we feel toward those who so kindly and generously assisted us in the long illness and the death of our dear husband and father. We ask God to bless you all,
Mrs. Anna Kropp and children.
 
 
OBITUARY
One of the saddest funerals in our experience was that of Fred Kropp who was laid to rest on the 24,.The. Deceased was born at Brownstown, Jackson County, Indiana, June 26, 1868. Later he removed to Eastern Nebraska where he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Petau.
 
Some two years ago he took a homestead near Amherst hoping to provide a home for his family. God, however, had decreed that his sojourn in Colorado be of short duration. After a long sickness during which he was delivered from his sufferings on the morning of Sunday the 20,
 
 What makes this case particularly sad is the fact that he had nothing to leave for the support of his widow and seven children. But we have already experienced that the people of Phillips County know what charity and liberality are; their gifts have surpassed our highest expectations. Therefore, we wish to thank very cordially all those who have opened their hearts and hands for these people and our prayer and hearts desire shall be forever that God will reward them in time and eternity.
 
Besides his wife and children the deceased leaves an aged mother at Brownstown, Indiana, a sister at Indianapolis, Indiana and three brothers, two of whom have been able to attend the burial to shed tears over his seemingly untimely departure, a sister-in-law, and Mrs. Kropp’s aged father who have made their home here, share the grief of the family, besides a number of distant relatives not known to the undersigned.
 
A short service was held at the house in the English language and a German service at the Baptist church; the text chosen is recorded Gen. 48, 21. His body is now at rest awaiting the resurrection of the body when body and soul will be with Christ in the realms of bliss forever. Once more invoking God’s manifold blessings upon all those who have dealt kindly with this family we close our remarks with the grateful desire that yours may be a departure in faith and that you will be rewarded in the resurrection of the just.
 
 -- William O. Leitz.
 
 
 
 
 
Fred Kropp

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