Mrs. Fritz Gutschow was reported in these columns last week as being very low from the effects of a cerebral hemorrhage which she suffered on January 3rd. Death came to end all at 11:15 last Friday morning, Jan. 6, and the funeral was held at the Methodist church at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon, A. J. Markley, D. D., officiating. Mrs. Gutschow had been a member of the German Lutheran church since early childhood, but on account of being a member of the L.O.T.M., a secret society, the pastor of that church refused to conduct the service. Miss Marie Ladwig was born in Mechlenberg, Germany Sept. 15, 1849, and was married to Fritz Gutschow on April 13, 1877. They came direct to this county from Germany about twenty two years ago and the greater part of that time has been spent in this city. About three years ago she joined the L.O.T.M. lodge, taking a $1,000 insurance police, payable to her only daughter, Erna. Her mother, aged 84, is still living in the Fatherland, as are also three sisters and one brother. One sister, Mrs. Theo. Meyer, lives in Saginaw, Mich., and Wm. Ladwig of this city is also a brother. Mrs. Gutshow was always a good and faithful wife, a tender mother, a kind and obliging neighbor and a true and constant friend. The Courier joins with her many friends in extending the deepest sympathy to the bereaved husband and daughter.

#2-12 Jan., 1905 - Blair Republican - Marie (Ludwig) Gutschow

The funeral of Mrs. Fritz Gutschow, formerly Miss Marie Ludwig, was held from the Methodist church yesterday at 2 p.m., Rev. A. J. Markley officiating. Mrs. Gutschow was born in Mecklenburg, Germany September 15, 1849, and was fifty five years, four months and twenty one days old at the time of her death. She was married to Fritz Gutschow April 13, 1877, and they have lived here for the past twenty two years. For the past six months she had suffered from poor health, and last Tuesday was stricken with paralysis, living until about noon Friday, during which time she gave no sign of recognizing anyone more than that she spoke Mr. Gutschow’s name once. She leaves, besides her husband and daughter, Erna, two brothers and two sisters in America, two sisters in Germany, and her mother now past eighty years of age. The funeral ceremony was in charge of the Lady Maccabees, to which order she has belonged for some time and in which she carried a thousand dollar policy of insurance payable to her daughter. Since a little girl she has been a devoted member of the German Lutheran church and the services yesterday would have been conducted from that church had not the minister refused to officiate because Mrs. Gutschow saw her way clear to hold a membership in the L.O.T.M. loge. The funeral yesterday was one of the largest in point of attendance held here in years, the M. E. church being crowded to its capacity, and the sermon by Rev. Markley was a touching appeal to the audience. The ceremony at the grave was conducted by the L.O.T.M. In their sad bereavement, Mr. Gutschow and daughter have the sincere sympathy of their many friends.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #105382768

Note: Maiden name be Ladwig