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Submitted: 5/11/08 • Approved: 5/11/08 • Last Updated: 2/17/13 • R55766-G55765-S3
TINA M (EILERS) FOSS
wife of
C. B. FOSS
June 8, 1852
May 24, 1939
When Grandma Foss passed away at the home of her granddaughter Mrs. Aug. Bargman, last Wednesday morning one of the earliest settlers of this community went to her rest. She had lived in and near Sterling for the past seventy-nine years.
Trientje Margaretha Eilers was born at Weserfehm, near Strackhold, in Ostfriesland, Germany on June 3, 1851. When she was only a few years old her mother died, and then in 1857 when she was only six years old her father brought the family to America. They first lived at Minonk, Ill. for three years and then in 1860 came to this community, settling on a homestead southwest of Sterling. Soon thereafter an older sister left home and she had to take over most of the house-keeping duties when she was only eleven years old.
In 1876 she made public confession and was confirmed in the Lutheran church by Rev. M. Martin. Her memorial verse, which was very fitting to her long life, was 2 cor. 12, 9: "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."
On December 28, 1868 she was married to Claus B. Foss at Tecumseh. To their union six children were born of whom one, Mrs. Henry Aden, preceded her mother in death. The young couple lived only on one farm for 48 years and then in 1916 retired to live in Sterling, where Mr. Foss died eight years later on December 10, 1924. She then continued to live in town until two years ago when her condition became such that she could no longer live alone. Since March 13, 1937 she made her home with a grand-daughter, Mrs. August Bargman, where at all times she received the tenderest care.
Grandmother Foss never had the opportunity of receiving much of an education, but she did know the one thing most needful to know from God's Word. She often told how her departed husband read from the Holy book in their family devotions. Later when she lived alone her radio was turned on only to hear a devotion in the morning and a sermon on Sunday.
Her's was a childlike faith and these last years she often expressed the wish to go to her home above. On the afternoon before her death she received holy communion and soon thereafter fell into a quiet sleep from which she was not to awaken again in this world. Her end came most peaceably on Wednesday morning, May 24th, just as the day was dawning. Her age was 10 days short of 88 years.
She is survived by the following five children: Mrs. Chas. Mack, Haxtun, Colo., John Foss and Ed Foss, Mrs. Gade Agena and Theodore Foss, all of Sterling. There are 15 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at St. John's Lutheran church in Sterling on Friday afternoon with Rev. Decker in charge. Interment was at the Sterling cemetery.
Contributed on 5/11/08 by carmar.kress
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Record #: 55766