PETER REEH IS CALLED TO HIS LAST LONG REST

Peter Reeh, one of the best known and most highly respected farmers of Washington county, died at his home 4 miles northwest of Blair, Saturday morning, Nov. 9, 1819 (error: 1918), aged 50 years.

Peter Reeh was born in Germany February 17, 1868, and came to America with his parents when 8 years of age. On Nov. 24, 1888, he was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Bruse, daughter of August Bruse, now of Blair and he was the father of six children: Chris A. Reeh, who died on the 4th of the present month, five days previous to the father’s demise; Mrs. Lena Oye, of Arthur, Ill.; Mrs. Dora Wulf, of Orum; George, Rudolph and Alfred, who are at home; the cause of his death being influenza. There are also three brothers, August, Charles and William; and two sisters, Mrs. Chris Richter and Mrs. Peter Truhlsen, all of whom deeply mourn his death.

The funeral was held at the home on Monday afternoon, Rev. C.M. Foreman having charge of the obsequies, and the burial was made in the Blair cemetery, a large concourse of relatives and friends following him to his last resting place.

# 2 - - from The Enterprise, November 15, 1918

PETER H. REEH

Peter H. Reeh, whose critical illness was noted in last week’s Enterprise, died at his home, four miles southwest of this city, last Saturday at 10 o’clock a.m. from pneumonia brought about by an attack of influenza, aged 50 years. Funeral service was held at the family home on the farm on Monday at 1 o’clock p.m.

Deceased was a native of Germany coming to this country with his parents when eight years of age and had resided here ever since.

He was married to Miss Sophia Bruse, daughter of August Bruse, in 1888, and six children, four sons, Chris, whose death occurred on Monday, the 4th. Inst.; George, Rudoph and Alfred, living at home; and two daughters, Mrs. Dora Wulf, living near Orum, and Mrs. Lena Oye, residing at Arthur, Ill. His aged father; three brothers, Gus., Charles and William; and two sisters, Mrs. Chris. Richter and Mrs. Peter Truhlsen are also surviving near relatives.

#3-Published in the Pilot November 20, 1918 The death angel paid a second visit to the Reeh family within a week, this time taking Peter H. Reeh, the father of Chris Reeh, who died at 10 o’clock Saturday forenoon. Both died of pneumonia following influenza. Owing to the great fear of the disease the father helped care for Chris until stricken with the disease himself from which he never recovered.

The funeral was held at 1 o’clock Monday afternoon at southwest of town, Rev. C. M. Foreman officiating. The music was furnished by a quartette composed of Misses Gladys Moore and Fayme Dixon, John Moore and M. A. Sams. The service was held out of doors and a large group of friends and neighbors gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to the departed. The funeral procession extended for over two miles, half way from the farm to Blair, which showed something of the esteem in which Mr. Reeh and the family are held in this community.

Peter was born in Germany Feb, 17, 1868, and therefore past fifty years of age. He came to America with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. Reeh, when eight years old. The family lived neighbors to the writer’s family in the county, so we have known Peter from childhood. Attended the old Brewster School together and in all the years of our acquaintance we have never known of his having committed an unkind, unjust or an unneighborly act.

He was married to Miss Sophie Bruse on November 24th, 1888, and to them were born six children, the eldest, Chris A., having passed away but five days before the death of this father. The others are Mrs. Lena Oye of Arthur, Ill., Mrs. Dora Wulf, of Orum, and George, Rudolph and Alfred live at home. He leaves also his aged father, who makes his home with his daughter, Katie, Mrs. Peter Truhlsen, another sister, Lizzie, Mrs. Chris Richter, and three brothers, August, Charles and Will.

With these who mourn the loss of husband, father, son and brother are a host of those who feel deeply the loss of a true friend and a good neighbor. In that he risked his own life to help save the life of his son he has shown us the measurer of a father’s love, and in paying the penalty with his own life he has made the greatest sacrifice man can make, the supreme sacrifice.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Washington Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file at the Blair Public Library.~~~ (Note that the location of the farm is different in these two obituaries: four miles northwest of Blair vs. four miles southwest of Blair.)