THEO. HALLER DEAD

PASSED PEACEFULLY AWAY ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON - FUNERAL WAS HELD AT HOME ON TUESDAY

Genial, kindly and lovable Theo. Haller is dead. At 1:30 last Sunday afternoon God’s good angel come and bore his spirit back to its Maker.

He had been unconscious since Saturday evening, but up to that time his mind had been clear. He was aware that the end had come for him and met it with the cheerful remark that “we must all go some time”.

Sunday morning, March 1st, he was taken with a severe attack of appendicitis and was taken to the hospital for an operation Monday which was successfully performed by Dr. Davis of Omaha. He recovered from the operation satisfactorily and the wound had almost entirely healed.

On the third day following the operation pleurisy developed followed by a sharp attack of pneumonia. This is what finally caused his death for he was too weak to throw it off. On Monday of last week he was taken home only to be removed from there by death on Sunday afternoon, just six weeks from the day he was first taken sick.

The funeral service was held at the home at 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon, Rev. A. G. Axtell officiating. The W.R.C. assisted in this service as is customary at the funeral of old soldiers.

The funeral cortege was headed by about seventy members from the local I.O.O.F. lodge in uniform, delegations from Tekamah and Kennard also being in line. These were followed by the following grand lodge officers: Past Grand Master Geo. L. Loomis and Grand Secretary J. P. Gage of Fremont, Grand Master Clark O’Hanlon and Dist. Dep. Grand Master M. D. Willert of Tekamah. Next came the aged members of the John A. Dix Post of which the deceased was an honored member, having held the positions of Junior and Senior Warden and Chaplain. The balance of the procession was made up as usual, a large number of teams from both city and country being in line.

The services at the grave were conducted by the Grand Lodge officers, deceased being a member of the board of trustees of the I.O.O.F. Home, Mr. Loomis acting as Grand Master and A. J. Taylor as Grand Marshall. The day was a perfect one and this service in the open air was exceedingly beautiful and impressive.

Theodore Haller was born near Honey Creek, Wis. Aug. 10th, 1842, being one of the family of ten children, five sons and five daughters. Of these three brothers, S. G., W. D. and H. F. and three sisters, Mrs. Mary Kemp, Mrs. Castetter of Burke, S.D. and Mrs. F. L. Fraser of Lake Beulah, Wis. All were present at the funeral except Mrs. Fraser.

On Oct. 14th, 1861 he and his brother, Sam, enlisted in the 9th Wisconsin Light Artillery and served in the west and south, fighting the Indians mostly, until the close of the war, being mustered out January 26th, 1865.

He was married to Miss Grace E. Morgan on August 23rd, 1871 and came to Blair in ’74. He was in the mercantile business with his brother B. F. until 1891. In 1902 he was appointed Clerk of the District Court to fill the unexpired term of Harland Fawcett and was twice elected to that office, holding it at the time of his death.

In church affiliation Mr. Haller was a devoted member of the Congregational church, uniting with it when he first came to Blair. For many years he was practically a father to the church and had served it as trustee and deacon.

He leaves a wife and four children, Dr. W. M. of this city, T. Perry and Mrs. Guy Axtell of Omaha and Miss Marguerite who lives at home.

Mr. Haller represented the best type of citizenship and always stood for the better things. He will be greatly missed, not only in the home, but in the church, the lodge room, and in the general life of the community.

His genial face has passed from our sight but his loving heart and his kindly manner will remain with us all in blessed memory through the years. And may we ever seek to emulate his many virtues in our lives.

#2-16 Apr., 1908 - The Blair Democrat - Veteran

THEO. HALLER PASSES AWAY

Theodore Haller, clerk of the district court of Washington county, died at his home in this city last Sunday from an attack of pneumonia, following an operation for appendicitis.

Several weeks ago Mr. Haller suffered an acute attack of appendicitis and was taken to the hospital and operated on. A few days after the operation complications set in developing into pneumonia. He was given all the care possible, but continued to grow worse until last Monday a week ago when he was taken home. He had begged to be taken home for some time before, and it was in the hope that he would feel better satisfied and that he might rally that the doctors gave permission to have him moved.

For the first day or two after being taken home he seemed to feel better and the family was rejoicing with hope that he would surely get well, but he soon took a turn for the worse and after lying unconscious for a few days passed away Sunday.

Mr. Haller was born in Walworth county, Wisconsin August 10, 1942 where he grew to manhood. On the 14th of August, 1861 he enlisted in the Ninth Wisconsin light battery and served until February 27, 1865. In 1871 he was married to Grace E. Morgan, coming to Blair in 1874. After arriving here he engaged in the mercantile business, retiring about 1890. He served on the city council and school board for a number of years, and at one time was mayor of Blair.

He was appointed clerk of the district court to fill a vacancy in that office caused by the resignation of Harland Fawcett, and was elected to the office in 1903 and 1907. He was a member of the Congregational church, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and G.A.R. post of this city, as well as a member of the Odd Fellows’ Home Board.

Besides a wife, he leaves four children, three brothers and three sisters. The children: Mrs Edith Axtell of Omaha, Dr. W. M. Haller, Perry M. Haller ad Miss Marguerite of this city. Samuel, W. D. and B. F. Haller are brothers, while Mrs. May E. Kemp of this city, Mrs. E. Cassetter of Burke, So. Dak. and Mrs. Elizabeth Frazier of Wisconsin are the sisters.

The funeral services were held from the home at two o’clock Tuesday afternoon, the Odd Fellows having charge. There were many floral tributes attesting the high esteem in which the deceased was held in this community, and the remains were followed to their last resting place by a large concourse of sorrowing relatives and friends. As a mark of respect all business houses were closed from 1:30 to 3 o’clock the afternoon of the funeral.

At the cemetery the services were conducted by a number of the state grand officers of the Odd Fellow order, among them being Grand Master Clark O’Hanlon of this city, Grand Secretary I. P. Gage of Fremont, Past Grand Representative George L. Loomis of Fremont, and District Deputy Grand Master Willard of Tekamah.

Mr. Haller was a good man; was kind, generous and public spirited. All who had the pleasure of his acquaintance were the better for it, and to know him was a pleasure. In his official capacity we can truthfully say the county never had a better nor more accommodating servant. He was willing to give the meekest and the wealthiest the best he had in his office and took great delight in making all who called at the district clerk’s office feel at home. Always kind and courteous, it was a pleasure to transact business with him and in his death the county loses a man whose place will be hard to fill. The Democrat joined with the community in extending sympathy to the bereaved family and relatives.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #114996911