As we go to press we learn that Mrs. Al Ludwig died suddenly in an Omaha hospital this morning. No particulars of the sad event have been received. Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Ludwig departed on the noon train for Omaha, and Mr. Ludwig will follow on the evening train, and on their return with the remains of Mrs. Ludwig, funeral announcement will be made.

#2-May 20, 1909- Arlington Review Herald- Ella Louise (Calkins) Ludwig

Long Confined in Omaha Hospital, Succumbs at Last to Incurable Disease The sad news was telegraphed to relatives in Arlington last Thursday forenoon, that Mrs. A.M. Ludwig after a long struggle against an incurable disease had died at 4:30 that morning in an Omaha hospital, where she had been confined since the middle of February, in the vain hope that health and strength would again return to her. Mr. Ludwig not being in town, the sad news of his wife’s death was not communicated to him in time for him to go to Omaha on the noon train, but Mr. and Mrs. A.G. Ludwig departed for that city at 12:15, where they made the necessary arrangements for bringing the remains to Arlington on the evening train. They were at once taken to her late residence, where they remained until Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, when they were interred in the Arlington cemetery, after a most eloquent and touching tribute had been paid to her many womanly qualities, but Rev. W.H. Bruss, pastor of the Congregational Church at Fremont, who baptized Mrs. Ludwig into the church in Burlington, Ia., while yet a girl in her teens. The casket was literally buried beneath beautiful flowers contributed by friends, the schools and by such societies as members of the family belonged. The remains were followed to the cemetery by a large number of sympathizing friends who desired to witness the last sad rites that forever hid from view all that was mortal of a departed friend and neighbor.

Mrs. Ella Louise Calkins Ludwig was born in Burlington Ia., Feb. 2, 1868, and was therefore at the time of her death 41 years, 8 months and 11 days old. She grew up to young womanhood and was educated in the public schools of that city, after which she began teaching, her first and only work along that line being in the Indian school located at White Rock, Utah, where she remained for five years, when she resigned and returned to her home in Burlington. It was while in White Rock that she met Mr. Ludwig, who was employed in some public work there in the employ of the late F.H. Jewitt. The acquaintance thus formed, ripened into something more tender and on June 27, 1895, the young couple were married, and immediately came to Arlington, where they have resided ever since, honored and respected by all. Five children survive her, besides the husband, father, mother, two sister and two brothers. The mother and one sister Miss Kate Calkins, were present at the funeral, the others of the family being too far away to attend the obsequies. Mrs. Ludwig had enjoyed the best of health until last August, when she was attacked by a disease that baffled medical skill and which was the direct cause of her death.

The interior of the church was most tastefully decorated for the occasion and the members of the family feel profoundly grateful to those who so kindly performed this service.

A no more fitting and beautiful tribute could be penned of the life and character of our departed friend and neighbor, that was paid by the Rev. Mr. Bruss in his sermon last Sunday, and for that reason, we take a few extracts from the same. Rev. Bruss in part said:

“The much loved daughter of M.B. and Mrs. Serena Calkins, of Burlington, she was by them very carefully reared in the Christian life and service, and when yet in her teens, was baptized and received into the fellowship of the West Burlington Congregational church, of which the speaker today was at that time pastor. Never shall I forget her appearance in her youth; rich in the beauty of health and feature; and in her face, speaking from expressive eyes, the gladness of a heart, truly won to Christ, and finding its chief joy in the service of His kingdom.”

“I remember her as a teacher in the Sabbath school, faithful, studious, conscientious, devoted to her pupils, and eager to be the means of their salvation.”

“Her fidelity and worthiness of example, were an encouragement and joy to me, then a young minister, presiding over my first church; and my heart is very tender today, and deeply grieved, and bereft, as I think that we may see her face no more.”

“To be called, after more than a score of years, to minister at her obsequies, is one of the wonderful providences of our God; but it only illustrated that Christian ties are enduring, and is a foretelling of those reunions at God’s right hand when we shall meet again, and where apart from sin and sickness and sorrow, we shall meet all the dear kindred in Christ whom on earth we have known and cherished.”

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

Find a Grave Memorial #44778781