Laake, Alex Anton Jr.

Accident Victim is Buried Here

Services were held in Columbus Funeral home May 10 for Alex Anton Laake Jr., who was killed in an automobile accident at Iraan May 8.

Rev. G. Wolf of St. Paul's Lutheran church was in charge of the services. Burial was in Odd Fellows Rest.

He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Louise Ladewig Laake Brune; three brothers, Victor, Eddie and Louis Laake; a sister, Mrs. Alice Perkins; four half-brothers, Max, James, Harry and Thomas Brune; and one half-sister, Maxine Brune, andf his step-father, Max Brune of Alleyton.

The Colorado County Citizen, May 20, 1948
Transcribed by Sandra Long Anders

Laake, Alvin Paul

Laake

Alvin Paul Laake, age 89, passed away December 29 at River Oaks Convalescent Center in Columbus after a 14 year stay.

Funeral services were held December 31 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Frelsburg under the direction of Henneke Funeral Home. Father Werner Bockholt officiated. Burial was at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery.

Alvin was born November 23, 1895 in Frelsburg to Pauline Ditwald Laake and Oswald Laake. He married Dora Stock Laake. He spent his entire life in Frelsburg where he was a retired carpenter.
Alvin was a member of the Catholic Church and a representative of the Catholic Life Insurance Group.

Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. Helen Spalek of Alleyton, Mrs. Regina Templeton of Columbus, Mrs. Edna Goldberry of Pasadena and Mrs. Linda Corliss of Katy; four sons, Anton Laake of Mesa, Arizona, Bruno Laake of Frelsburg, Edwin Laake of Industry, Melvin Laake of Willow Spring and adopted grandson, Dan Laake of Industry; twenty-one grandchildren. eighteen great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter.

Pallbearers were all grandsons, and they include Robert Laake, Darrell Laake, Wayne Goldsberry, Donnie Templeton, Gene Spalek and Randy Corliss.

Colorado County Citizen, January 10, 1985, page 2

Laake, Bruno Paul

Laake

Bruno Paul Laake, 75 of Frelsburg passed away Sept. 24 at Columbus Community Hospital.

He was born Aug. 27, 1924 to Alvin and Doretha (Stock) Laake and married Erna Minar on Nov. 20, 1945. He had worked as a foreman for Drymalla Construction and was an Army veteran of World War II.

Funeral services were held Sept. 27 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Frelsburg with Father Wayne Flagg officiating. Interment followed at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery.

Pallbearers were: Gene Spalek, Donnie Templeton, Wayne Goldsberry, Robert Laake, Joe Skutca, Mike Corliss and Brian Laake.

Honorary Pallbearers were:  Shawn Hunger, Michael Laake, Gregory Laake, Derek Laake, Dustin Laake, and Kyle Laake.

He is survived by his wife; daughter and son-in law:  Debbie and Greg Hunger of Ellinger; sons and daughter-in-law: Daryl and Linda Laake of New Ulm and Glenn Laake of Mount Pleasant; sisters: Helen Spalek of Alleyton; Regina Templeton of Columbus; Edna Goldsberry of Pasadena and Linda Corliss of Katy; brothers: Anton Laake of Mesa, Ariz.; Melvin Laake of Willow Springs; Edwin Laake of Industry and Dan Laake of Katy; grandchildren Shawn Hunger, Alicia Hunger, Michael Laake, Gregory Laake, Kasey Laake, Derek Laake, Dustin Laake, Kyle Laake, Amanda Laake and Susan Titsworth and great-grandson Tanner Mayberry.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Jerome Spalek.

Colorado County Citizen, September 29, 1999, p. 9
Transcribed by Sandra Long Anders

Laake, Dorothy (Stock)

Mrs. Alvin Laake Of Frelsburg Last Rites Held

Last rites for Mrs. Alvin Laake, 62, of Frelsburg were held at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic church in Frelsburg, at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Rosary was recited Monday night at 7:30 in Untermeyer Funeral home.

Mrs. Laake died Feb. 9 at 9:45 p.m. at St. Jude hospital in Brenham. She had been ill for about 3 months. She and her husband were married in Frelsburg and had spent their entire life in that community.

She is survived by her husband; 4 sons, Anton of Scotsdale, Ariz., Bruno of Fayetteville and Edwin and Melvin of New Ulm and 4 daughters, Mrs. Jerome Spalek, Alleyton; Mrs. W. C. Templeton, Columbus; Mrs. Glen Goldsberry, Pasadena, and Mrs. Dennis Corliss, Garwood; a brother, Henry Stock of near Rowena, and a sister, Mrs. Henry Schneider of Fredericksburg.

Pallbearers were Arthur Stancik, Otto Hilgen, Ernest Richter, Carl Christian, Walter Meyer and Delton Hollmann.

Burial was in Frelsburg Catholic cemetery.

Colorado County Citizen, February, 14, 1963, page 5

Laake, Frank Albert

Obituary

Frank Albert Laake was born in the village of Gerlachsdorf, Province of Silsesia, Prussia, on August 10th, 1842, and died at his home in the Frelsburg community of Colorado county at the age of 76 years and fourteen days.

At the age of fourteen years he accompanied his parents on their immigration to America. On the 5th of September, 1856, Earnst Laake and his family embarked on a vessel at Bremen, Germany, and set forth for America. On the 5th of the following November, after voyaging across the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, they landed in Galveston, Texas, from which place they made their way by one of the old time steamboats up the Buffalo bayou to Houston, where a wagon, and ox team were driven to the boat landing and became the means of transporting the family and their belongings to their destination in Austin county.

On the 30th of October, 1866, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Laake to Miss Lousia Werlla. To they union were born nine children. Of this number six are living. They are: Mrs. Clara Niehues of Hydro, Okla., Mrs. Mary Niehues, Westphalia, Tex., Frank W. Laake of Hobson, Tex., Mrs. Cecelia Stock of Hamilin, Tex., Alois A. Laake, partner of his father and Earnest W. Laake, entomologist of the State Department of Agriculture with headquarters at Dallas.

Mr. Laake has not only been a successful farmer and stock raiser but has for forty years been engaged in the growing of grapes and manufacturing therefrom wines of the finest types. He obtained his first permium on his wines in 1889 and since that time has received many more.

Mr. Laake was a horticulturist of no little ability, having written a number of papers on grape culture which received wide publication.

To know this man was to be his friend. [Interment in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery]

Colorado Citizen, Friday, August 30, 1918, Page 1
Transcribed by Sandra Long Anders

Laake, Louisa (Werlla)

Mrs. F. A. Laake Dies in Hospital at Temple

Mrs. F. A. Laake, widow of the late F. A. Laake who during his life enjoyed a considerable reputation as an experienced vintner, and who was one of the best known and most progressive citizens of the Frelsburg Community died early yesterday morning at a hospital in Temple, to which place she had been rushed for treatment after sustaining a fractured leg caused by a fall from a step ladder while in the act of gathering eggs, Friday evening of last week.

Mrs. Laake was in robust health in spite of her advanced age and took much interest in the daily affairs of her immediate neighborhood. And was ever ready to respond liberally and lend a helping hand whenever a call for help or distress was sounded. She was a lady of culture and refinement and was imbibed with the spirit of true southern hospitality. She saw the bright and dark sides of life but she kept faith in her God, took new courage and hope and, with the alwise council of our Lord, she managed to carry the burden and seal the many wounds of her heart and soul that were torn to bleeding the course of her life which lasted for more than three scores and ten years.

Her mortal remains reached New Ulm yesterday morning and were conveyed to her residence about three miles out of town where the body will lay in state until all her children and relatives arrive. Deceased leaves a large family of boys and girls, all grown, and enjoying prominency in different sections of Texas and Oklahoma. Of her children, A. A. Laake and Miss Angela Laake, who reside at the old homestead, and Ernest Laake, Assistant Entemologist, to Dr. Hunter of Dallas, are the only ones known to the writer.

She was a good kind and genial lady and belonged to the group of pioneer families that located in the region in close proximity to Frelsburg and New Ulm, and that made history for Austin and Colorado counties.

These brave and true-hearted pioneers are being claimed by the angel of death without exception and in a few more years the grave will close over the mortal remains of the last one.
Rest in peace, you are absent but not forgotten.—New Ulm Enterprise. [Interment in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery]

The Colorado Citizen, July 16, 1920
Transcribed by Sandra Long Anders

Laake, Lydia (Lobpries)

Laake

Lydia Lobpries Laake, 91, of Columbus, passed away Feb. 4 at her residence.

She was born in Moulton, Aug. 19, 1914 to Edward and Annie (Genzer) Lobpries and married Victor H. Laake, March 28, 1934. She was a retired drapery sales person for Sears department store in Houston. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbus.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Victor Henry Laake Jr.; sisters, Ella Blackburn, Lucille Baumgarten and Elaine Steinmann; and brothers, Victor and Fritz Lobpries.

She is survived by her husband; daughters, Patricia Jean Younger of Houston and Beverly Ann O'Brien of League City; sisters, Alaine Myers of La Grange and Helen Green of El Campo; grandchildren, Michael Jobe and wife Joanne of Chattanooga, TN and Richard O'Brien of Denver, Colo.; and great-grandchildren, Michael Jobe Jr. and Mitchell Jobe.

Funeral services were conducted Feb. 7 at Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus with the Rev. Jeffrey Marsh officiating. Interment followed at Lakeside Cemetery in Eagle Lake.

Pallbearers were Michael Jobe, Richard O'Brien, Kenneth Baumgarten, Gerald Green, Dennis Stary and Susan Myers.

Honorary pallbearers were David Blackburn and Paul Baumgarten.

Colorado County Citizen, February 8, 2006
Courtesy of The Citizen

Laake, Oswald

Mr. Oswald Laake, Sr.
(By Pearl Westphal)

Mr. Oswald Laake Sr. died at the home of his son Alvin, Tuesday night after a lingering illness of which he suffered for the past three years. At the time of his death he reached the age of 83 years, 3 months and 24 days.

Mr. Laake was born at Neualtmansdorf Krs. Munsterberg in Schleisinger, on September 23rd, 1851. In the year 1877, he was united in marriage with Miss Pauline Dittwald, and in 1903 they departed from their native country to make their home in Texas. They settled near Frelsburg, and at the time of his death, Mr. Laake and his wife had resided here for more than 30 years.

The deceased is survived by his heartbroken wife and eight children; Mrs George Hilgen, Mrs. Frank Zajicek, and Alvin Laake of Frelsburg, Oswald and Berthold Laake of Taylor, Mrs. Frank Kristen of Weimar, Paul Laake of New Ulm, and Alex Laake of Corpus Christi. Surviving also is one brother, 42 grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren.

Interment was in the [Sts. Peter and Paul] Catholic cemetery Thursday morning with Father Stindle officiating.

Our sympathy is extended to the sorrowing ones in their hour of bereavement.

Colorado County Citizen, January 24, 1935

Laake, Paul Joseph

Laake

Paul Joseph Laake, 86, of Nada, died Sunday, Aug. 27, 1995.

Born April 15, 1909 in Hallettsville, he was the son of Frank and Martha (Elyer) Laake. He was a retired farmer and a Catholic.

Funeral services were held Aug. 29 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Monsignor Victor Schmidzinsky officiating. Interment followed in in[sic] St. Mary’s Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Triska Funeral Home of El Campo.

Serving as pall bearers were Keith Hand, Kevin Hand, Michael Laake, Leonard Swoboda, Harvey Laake and Fred Onheiser Jr. Honorary pallbearers were John F. Haas, Robert Haas, Dennis Haas, Charles Haas, James Onheiser, Marvin Onheiser, Tony Schneider, Bill Swoboda, Alfonse Mazoch and J. D. Syring.

Mr. Laake is survived by his wife, Angela (Schneider) Laake of Nada; daughters, Eileen Hand of Alaska and Patricia Talbert of Colorado; son Paul F. Laake of Columbus; sisters, Olga Haas and Elizabeth Onheiser of Hallettsville,; a brother, Joseph Laake of Hallettsville; and nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Colorado County Citizen, September 6, 1995, page 12

Laake, Paul Thomas

Funeral Services For Paul Laake

Funeral Services for Paul Thomas Laake of New Ulm were scheduled for today, Thursday, November 4, at 2 p.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Frelsburg with interment in the Church Cemetery.

Mr. Laake passed away Tuesday, November 2, 1982, at the age of 89 years.

Born in Colorado County October 3, 1893, he was the son of the late Oswald and Pauline Laake. He married the former Roxie Schramm January 17, 1922 in Frelsburg. A lifetime resident of this area, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the V.F.W. and the American Legion.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Roxie Laake of New UIm; five daughters, Mrs. Ernest (Agnes) Richter of New Ulm, Mrs. Delton (Annie) Holmann of Bernardo, Mrs. Lester (Nola) Richter of Columbus, Mrs. Arthur (Martha) Stancik of Columbus and Mrs. Bert (Viola) Kretzschmar of Huntsville; one son and daughter-in-law, Oswald and Bessie Laake of Madisonville; one brother, Alvin Laake of Frelsburg; 28 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, 3 sisters and 1 daughter.

Koenig-Peel Funeral Chapel, Inc. of La Grange and Zaskoda Chapel of Industry were in charge of funeral arrangements.

New Ulm Enterprise, November 4, 1982, page 1

Laake, Paulina (Dittwald)

Funeral services were held Tuesday morning, February 20th at 9 o'clock for Mrs. Paulina Laake of near Frelsburg, from the home of her son, Alvin, with services following at Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church at Frelsburg. Rev. H. T. Schroeder officiated. Interment was made in the Catholic Cemetery with Ben Boehme in charge of the funeral arrangements. [Interment in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery]

Pallbearers were the following grandsons: Otto and Gerhard Hilgen, Anton Laake, Emil Gully, Charley Littrich and Carl Christen. Mrs. Laake died at the home of her son, Alvin Sunday evening following an extended illness and a severe attack of the flu. She reached the age of 87 years, 8 days. She was born in Germany, Feb. 10, 1853 and on March 14, 1887, she was married to Oswald Laake who preceded her in death, Jan. 16th 1935, as well as two sons, one in infancy and Berthold in 1937.

Deceased is survived by seven children, Mrs. Paulina Zajicek and Mrs. Agnes Hilgen of Frelsburg, Mrs. Frances Christen of Weimar, Oswald of Taylor, Alex of San Benito, Paul of New Ulm and Alvin of Frelsburg, 42 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren, a brother, Fritz Dittwald of Germany and a host of other friends and relatives who mourn her passing.

Colorado County Citizen, February 29, 1940
Transcribed by Judy Talkington

Laake, Roxie D. (Schramm)

Laake Funeral Services

Funeral Services for Mrs. Roxie Laake, 82, of New Ulm, were held Saturday, June 27, 1987, at 10 a.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Frelsburg with Rev. Msgr. Werner Bockholt officiating.

Interment was in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Laake passed away Thursday, June 25, in Columbus.

Born July 29, 1904 In Shelby, she was the daughter of the late Willie and Anna (Dunkel) Schramm. She married Paul T. Laake January 17, 1922 in Frelsburg. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and the Altar Society.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Oswald and Bessie Laake of Madisonville; five daughters and four sons-in-law, Agnes and Ernest Richter of New UIm, Annie and D. G. Hollmann of Cat Spring, Nola and Lester Richter and Martha Stancik of Columbus and Viola and Bert Kretzschmar of Huntsville; four brothers, Frank Schramm of Shelby, Herbert Schramm of Bleiblerville, LeRoy Schramm of New Ulm and Norbert Schramm of Fayetteville; four sisters, Aliza Klaus of Conroe, Ruby Dudensing of Industry, Lorraine Holub of Weimar and Ida Weber of Houston; 28 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, one sister and one son-in-law.

Pallbearers were Ernest Richter Jr., Larry Hollmann, Douglas Laake, Lloyd Richter, Anthony Stancik and Vernon Kretzschmar.

Koenig-Peel Funeral Home. Inc. of La Grange was in charge of arrangements.

New Ulm Enterprise, July 2, 1987, page 3

Laake, Stephen Anthony

Laake Funeral Services

Funeral Services for 18- year old Stephen A. Laake of Columbus were held Monday. January 4, 1993 from St. Anthony Catholic Church in Columbus at 2 p.m. with Father Jesse Euresti officiating.

Burial was in the church cemetery.

Stephen passed away Friday night, January 1, 1993, as the result of injuries received in a one-vehicle accident 13 miles north of Columbus on Brunes Mill Road.

Born in Columbus September 11, 1974, he was the son of Paul F. and Agnes (Schneider) Laake. He was a senior student at Columbus High School and a member of the Future Farmers of America, National Honor Society, Who's Who of American High Schools and Spanish Club.

Survivors include her[sic] parents, Paul and Agnes Laake of Columbus: grandparents, Paul J. and Angela Laake of Nada: sister, Paul[sic] Laake of Columbus; and brother, Michael Laake of Columbus.

He was preceded in death by grandparents, Reinhardt and Adela Schneider.

Pallbearers were Kevin Little, Kevin Ruether, Jason Templeton, James Janik, Keith Potter, Doug Noska, Eric Dvorak, and Curt Hahn.

Honorary pallbearers were David Kallus, James Kroboth, Richard Kroboth, Robert Kroboth, Thomas Zimmermann, Warren Zimmermann, Stanley Zimmermann, James Montemayor, Mike Johnson and Larry Stephens also all the members of the Future Farmers of America of Columbus and all students of the Columbus Senior Class of ‘93.

ervices were under the dirction[sic] of Henneke Funeral Home of Columbus.

New Ulm Enterprise, January 7, 1993, page 2