Obit: Wittke, Ernestine (1855 - 1937)

Contact:  Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Brandt, Wittke, Reichert, Siebert, Wilms, Baumann

----Sources: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 21 Oct. 1937

Wittke, Ernestine (8 Sept. 1855 - 10 Oct. 1937)

Ernestine Brandt was born Sept. 8, 1855, at Koenigsberg, Germany, and passed away Sunday, Oct. 10, 1937.

She came to America in 1877 and was married to August Wittke on Aug. 21 of that year. To this union 7 children were born: August Jr. of Neillsville; Emma, Mrs. Gust Reichert, West Allis; Ferdinand, Neillsville; Clara, Mrs. Will Siebert, deceased; Henry, Neillsville; Herman, Waukesha; and Edna, Mrs. Fred Wilms, West Allis. The husband, 6 children, 12 grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren survive.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wittke lived for 18 years in Decatur, Ill., before coming to Wisconsin, which has since been their home, with the exception of short intervals when they went to West Allis to be with their children.

On Aug. 21, Mr. and Mrs. Wittke celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Wilms, at West Allis, where the aged woman passed away.

Mrs. Wittke spent most of her life on the farm. Always unselfish, she gave her time and strength to the interests of her family, church and friends.

The funeral was held Thursday afternoon at 1:30 at Lowe’s Funeral home and at 2 o’clock at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rev. Wm. A. Baumann officiating. Interment took place in the Neillsville Cemetery.

Out-of-town relatives who attended the rites included: Mr. and Mrs. Gust Reichert, son, Ernest, and daughter, Leona, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wilms of West Allis; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Wittke of Waukesha; and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wittke of Cedar Rapids, Ia.