Rudolph Sas died at Los Angeles, Cal., at 12:10 p.m., Tuesday, August 9th, 1910, of quinsy after an illness of two days. Mr. Sas and his daughter, Bertha, and his brother, Will, and daughter, Catherine, left Blair about five weeks ago for a vacation and pleasure trip on the Pacific coast and the news of his death was quite a shock to his many friends in this county. Mr. Sas came to Blair nineteen years ago last March and in company with his brothers engaged in the general merchandise business under the name of Sas Bros. and were located in the Haller building, where the Blair Clothing Co. now is until 1893, when they erected the building they now occupy.

Rudolph Sas was born in St. Claire county, Michigan, in 1859 and at the time of his death was 51 years, 6 months and 2 days old. He was married in Harrison county, Iowa, in 1883 to Miss Minna Michael. To this union two children were born, who, with his invalid wife, survive him.

He leaves four brothers, Fred and Henry of this city, Will of St. Paul, Minn., and John W. of Winner, S.D., and one sister, Mrs. F. L. Parish of this city.

The remains were brought from California and arrived in Blair Sunday morning on the 9:30 train. The funeral was held from the German Lutheran Church at 2:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon and the body interred in the Blair cemetery. The services were in both German and English. Rev. Hallerberg of Arlington conducted the English services and Rev. E. Eckhardt the German. A large concourse of friends followed the remains to the cemetery.

In the death of Rudolph Sas, Blair loses one of her leading business men. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the bereaved family.

# 2 - - Tribune, August 17, 1910

The Sas brothers went south with Gus Rathmann in an auto and reported the sudden death of their brother, Rudolph, one of the Blair merchants, who had gone through Canada and other places and died in California.

#3-17 Aug., 1910 - The Pilot - Rudolph Sas

The Rudolph Sas funeral on Sunday afternoon was probably the largest ever held in the city. It being Sunday when people were free, and a fine day at that, and Mr. Sas being one of our leading businessmen and meeting death so suddenly all conspired to excite the sympathy and interest of the public. The body was expected on the afternoon train Saturday, but did not arrive until Sunday morning from the south. It was taken direct to his beautiful home opposite the court house where a short service in German was held by Rev. Eckhardt at 2:30. At 3 o’clock the body was taken to the German Lutheran church where two sermons were preached, one by Rev. Eckhardt in German, and one by Rev. Hallerberg of Arlington in English. The church was crowded and hundreds stood outside during the service. The line of teams reached almost from town to the cemetery and showed something of the esteem in which Mr. Sas was held. The pallbearers were: Messrs. Scheffler, Truhlsen, Bruse, Peter Siert, Schmahling and Felix Beyer. The cause of death as given on the death certificate was from “edema of the throat” which is the same as quinsy. A gathering in the tonsils broke and the pus was so profuse it choked him to death. Mr. Sas was born in St. Claire, Mich. Feb. 7th, 1859, and moved with his parents to Boone, Iowa in ’66. In 1878 they moved to Harrison county, Iowa, where he was married to Miss Minnie Michael in 1883. They came to Blair in 1891, and he entered the mercantile business first with his brother, Will, and later with Fred, and the big brick store that bears their name is a monument to his ability as a businessman. His business associates and the entire community extend heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family.

#4-18 Aug., 1910 - Blair Democrat

RUDOLPH SAS DEAD

Word reached Blair last week that Rudolph Sas had died very suddenly in Los Angeles, Calif. last Tuesday noon. No particulars were at hand with the telegram except that Rudolph had died from quinsy and tonsillitis.

From details learned from Will Sas who came from the coast with the remains, Rudolph had contracted a cold while in Seattle, but was apparently over it while in Los Angeles. The Sunday preceding his death he was feeling fine and with his daughter, Bertha, had visited a former Blair girl in that city. On Monday his throat began bothering him again and seeking the advice of a physician was informed as to the nature of the trouble and told that the swelling would “break” in a few hours.

Mr. Sas was not confined to his bed, although compelled to stay in his room, and it was while reaching for a vessel to spit in that he fell back dead. Will Sas was with him at the time, the two young girls who accompanied their parents on the trip having gone down to dinner. Upon seeing Rudolph fall back limply Will rushed to his side, picked him up and laid him on the bed. While doing this he called to Rudolph and asked what the matter was, but got no response. A physician was summoned, but Rudolph had passed away.

Mr. Sas, while looking strong and healthy, was not always as well as he might have been, and it is the opinion of relatives here that it was heart failure that caused his death, rather than the throat trouble, because there was not a struggle of any kind when his spirit fled; just a slight gasp.

The remains reached Blair Sunday morning and were taken to the late home on Colfax street. Short funeral services were held there at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and at 2:30 the regular services were held at the German Lutheran church in this city. Rev. Eckhardt delivered the funeral sermon in the German language and Rev. Hallerberg, pastor of the German Lutheran church north of Arlington, spoke in English. The church was crowded and a large number of carriages followed the remains to their last resting place in the cemetery east of town.

Rudolph was born in St. Clair, Mich. February 7, 1859, and moved to Boone, Iowa with his parents in 1866. He came to Nebraska in 1891 and engaged in the general merchandise business in company with his brothers under the firm name of Sas Bros. He was a good citizen and a successful businessman with a host of friends.

Deceased leaves a invalid wife, one son, Will, and one daughter, Betha, both grown. Also four brothers, Fred and Henry of this city, Will of St. Paul, Minn. and John W. of Winner, S.D., and one sister, Mrs. F. L. Parish of this city.

The business which under Rudolph’s management has grown to such proportions in this city, will be continued under the same name, the heirs of the deceased taking possession of his share.

It was about six weeks ago that Rudolph and his daughter, Bertha, and Will Sas and his daughter, Katie, left for a trip through Canada and the Pacific coast states for the purpose of enjoying a rest, and up until the time of Rudolph’s sickness they were having a lovely time, which made the news of his death come as a great shock to the people at home.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #118805122