Maria Minnie Schwarz, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Schwarz, was born December 4, 1888, in Otoe County, Nebraska, and departed this life at the home of her mother in this city on August 4, 1945, at the age of fifty-six years and eight months.
She became a member of the Lutheran church in Otoe county on april 28, 1889, through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. On May 1, 1904 she afirmed her Baptismal covenant in the rite of Confirmation in Mt. Hope Lutheran church near Smithfied, Nebraska, and remained loyal to the Triune God throughout her life.
In 1889 she moved with her parents to a farm two and one-half miles west of Bertrand, and in 1892 to a farm near Smithfield, and made her home until March, 1938, when she and her mother moved to this city. Upon her arrival here she became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
At the age of sixteen she sustained a severe bodily injury, causing her to become afflicted with epilepsy, which she cheerfully accepted during the remainder of her life. Although she had never been well since that time, she began to fail rapidly with the beginning of this year. On July 21st she became ill with a sore throat, causing her to become bedfast. Further complications soon developed causing her blessed departure.
She leaves to mourn her passing her mother, Mrs. Minnie Schwarz; two brothers, John of Lexington and Frank of Smithfield; four sisters, Mrs. Clara Woehrle, Mrs. Rosa Woodside, and Mrs. Lena Noble, all of this city, and Mrs. Elsie Roper of Dalla, South Dakota; 21 nephews, 13 nieces, and one great niece, and a host of other relatives and friends. Her father, Jacob, and five brothers: Christian, Emil, William, Louie, and George also two nephews and one niece, preceded her in death.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, August 8th, at Trinity Lutheran Church of this city. Her paster spoke on Psalm 71, 19-23 and the womens sextet sang, "I'm But a Stranger Here," and "Asleep in Jesus, Blessed Sleep." Her mortal remains were laid to rest in the family lot in Mt. Hope Lutheran cemetery near Smithfield, the Rev. O.F.W. Pittack officiating.