The Frazee Press – Jan. 12, 1939
JOHN WOKASCH DIES SUDDENLY
Well-known Farmer of Evergreen was Victim of Fatal Stroke Sunday
Sudden and unexpected death visited a well-known family of this community Sunday evening when John Wokasch, prominent Evergreen farmer, passed away from the effects of a stroke. Sunday morning Mr. Wokasch had been to Mass at the Scared [sic] Heart Catholic Church here, as usual, and in the afternoon he went visiting at the Christ Drewes home. Returning home about five p.m. he had just put the car in the garage and was starting up towards the house when suddenly collapsed in the yard. His son Carl, who had gone down to help him put the car away was walking with him when the fatal seizure occurred. As quickly as possible Mr. Wokasch was carried in the house and altho it seemed to his children at first that he was trying to say something to them, he was unable to do so, nor did he recover consciousness before the end. In the absence of Father Junghans, Father Schirmers of Perham was called out to the Wokasch farm, and arriving there about eight o’clock he administered extreme unction to the stricken man, whose body he found still warm, altho death had already apparently occurred.
Just last Friday, January 6th, Mr. Wokasch celebrated his 69th birthday and the neighbors and members of the family who helped him observe the ocassion [sic], no recall that “John” said that he did no care to celebrate another birthday on this earth. His children also recollect how lately he hed [sic] never set an exact date for doing any particular thing or work, but always said he would do it at such a time “if he were still here.” He greatly missed and mourned his departed wife and looked forward to joining “mother” in the life beyond. Evidently he had an inner presentment that their separation was not to be for much longer and his wish to be with her was blessedly granted by God. By a rather strange coincidence, MR. Wokasch and his wife both died on the eigth day of the week. Mrs. Wokasch passing away on August 8th, 1934, while he folled her this January 8th, 1939. Both were also buried on the 11th.
Altho he had not felt quite so physically fit and well for the past couple of years, MR. Wokasch gave little evidence of being seriously ill, and his sudden demise, coming as it did without any warning whatsoever, was a very sad shock to his family and friends alike. Many can still scarcely realize that he is really gone and even when he lay in state in his coffin, he looked so natural and life-like that he appeared to be naturally sleeping. And so it is of comfort to think of him as–”not dead, but sleeping.”
Altho Mr. Wokasch was born in Austria he came to this country with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wokasch, as a baby of about a year old. They settled at New Ulm, in Carver County, Minnesota and it was there that John grew to manhood. He was about thirty years of age when he came to this part of the state and settled on the farm in Evergreen Township which has ever since been the Wokasch home. January 23rd, 1905, he was married to Mary Rother, their wedding taking place at the Catholic Church here.
Ten children blessed this marriage union, two of whom, a boy and a girl passed away in infancy. The eight surviving children are: Carl and Martin, at home, Rose (Mrs. Irvin Scheidecker) of Duluth, Mary and Hedwig of Wadena, Helen (Mrs. Carl Fredrickson,) of Minneapolis, Dorothy (Mrs. Norbert Schaedler) of International Falls, Ursula at home, and Cecelia of Oakes. North Dakota. All of the girls, together, with their husbands, were here for their father’s funeral.
In addition to the above named children, Mr. Wokasch is also survived by six brothers and an only sister. The sister, MRs. Tom (Theresa) Booth of Northrup, and four of his brothers, Conrad, also of Northrup, and Tom, Henry, and Joe, all from Fairmont, were here for the funeral, but Frank and Art were unable to come. Tom Wokasch’s son, Floyd, also occupied his father here while other out-of-town relatives and friends in attendance included Mrs. Schaedler (Norbert’s mother) from International Fals [sic], MR. and MRs. George Konkler and son Raymond of Oakes, M. Dak. (Mrs. Konkler is a cousin of the deceased) and also David Bengston of Wadena.
Funeral services for Mr. Wokasch were held Wednesday morning at 9:30 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with Rev. Fr. Schirmers of Perham as celebrant of the Requiem High Mass.
Six of Mr. Wokasch’s good friends and neighbors, John Ulschmid, Sr., Robert Byer, Anthony Berger, Sr., John Holzel, Sr., Louie Karsnia and B. W. Aldrich, served as his pallbearers. Interment took place in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.
If ever there was a faithful church-goer, MR. Wokasch was, and he was equally fervent in his home devotions. When such a one is taken they are missed more than words can tell in the congregations, community life and family circle, but theirs is the assurance of Heaven’s reward for Christian constantness. By his acts and his faith, MR. Wokasch was truly prepared for his Master’s summons, and as Father Schirmers pointed out in his funeral discourse, it sometimes takes such a suddenly shocking death to make us realize that death is not only unescapable but ever imminent. Therefor we should “make ready” for it every day of our lives and not on a moment’s notice since all to often that precious moment of preparation is denied. A flower does not change into a thorn nor is a thorn transformed into a flower simply because they are plucked. If you pull an eatable vegetable out of the garden you still have a vegetable after it is pulled, or if you up-root a noxious weed you have a weed. Their character is not altered or changed simply because they are pulled or plucked. Thus it is also with the human soul. Death does not change it. It must grow into something good and worth while, deserving of Heaven’s blessings, while it is yet on earth.
Looking about the church at the sorrow-marked faces of relatives, friends and neighbors of the deceased, and seeing his grief-stricken sons and daughters as they walked behind their father’s bier, the sincerity of their sorrow and the general feeling of grief evoked by Mr. Wokasch’s passing brought to our mind this thought: What more lasting monument could a man leave behind him than a host of such sincerely sorrowing friends and a large family, reared to successful young man and womanhood who grieve in common accord the passing of a beloved and never-to-be-forgotten father. The memory of their many happy hours with him, the pride and pleasure he took in their family life, the exemplary example he always set them, are a priceless inheritance to his children. Great as their bereavement is, they know that their father followed God’s Way and Will and there is solace and satisfaction in the realization that he has gone to His promised reward. Therefore they can “comfort one another with these words.”
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Card of Thanks
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We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the many kind neighbors and friends whose sympathy and assistance sustained us during our deep bereavement. For all that was done for us at this time we are deeply grateful and we will never forget your goodness. Especially do we thank Father Schirmers, the pallbearers, and those who sent floral offerings.
The Wokasch Children.