Obit: Shafer, Catherine A. (1828 - 1902)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: SHAFER ELDERKIN LOCKMAN STELZIG

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 07/24/1902

Shafer, Catherine A. (23 MAR 1828 - 16 JUL 1902)

Died, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Jos. Stelzig, at Waite Park, Minn., on Wednesday, July 16th, 1902, Mrs. Catherin A. Shafer, in the 75th year of her age.

Catherine A. Elderkin was born at Toronto, Canada, March 23rd, 1828, where she was educated and grew to womanhood. On Jan. 1st, 1844, she was united in marriage to Michael Shafer and ten years later with her husband, the family moved to Wisconsin, settling at Beaver Dam. In 1888 the family moved to Colby, Clark Co., Wis. where they lived for a time, but as the shadows of age crept upon the aged couple, they made their home for the most part with their daughters, Mrs. L.K. Lockman of La Crosse, Wis., and Mrs. Jos. Stelzig, Waite Park, Minn.

On the 27th day of Sept. 1894, her husband died and ever since mother has been a lonesome woman, yet she had become resigned to her bereavement in a calm and cheerful manner.

Mother was a kind Christian woman. When a young girl she became a member of the M.E. Church, in which faith she believed, lived and died. She was one of those kind little women that was a privilege for everyone to meet, always cheerful and true. She had one of those kind faces, an air of culture and refinement worthy of emulation. To the down=hearted and bereaved she was a comfort and cheer; to those upon whom little grief had been cast she was a delightful companion.

No better evidence of the high esteem in which she was held could be shown than the way in which her neighbors and friends of Waite Park turned out in her last sickness. To us it will always be a source of gratitude and a green spot in memory to know that these kind friends did all that was possible for human hands to do to lighten the burdens of mother and amid the most beautiful flowers, they laid her to rest in the little palace whose doors are not open to mortals.

The funeral was held at the residence of her daughter Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock, conducted by Rev. C.W. Lawson of the M.E. Church, assisted by Rev. K.N. Morrill of the Baptist Church. A quartet of the M.E. Church choir sang the old songs that mother loved so well: "Jesus Lover of My Soul," "We Shall Meet By and By" and "Lead Kindly Light."