Funeral Service Here Wednesday For Rev. Sterz
The funeral of the Rev. Herman Sterz, 312 Fourth street,
who died at St. Mary's hospital Saturday afternoon at 12:15 o'clock
following an illness of two months duration, will take place Wednesday
afternoon with services at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran at 2 o'clock.
Private funeral services will be held for the family members at 9:45 a.m.
Wednesday at the home and the body will then be taken to St. Luke's church
to lie in state from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The Rev. F. E. Stern, pastor of Trinity English Lutheran church, will conduct
the private services at the home, while the Rev. G. Thurow of Waterloo,
president of the west district of the joint synod of Wisconsin, and the
Rev. G. Stern of Columbus, who has been serving St. Luke's church here during
the illness of Rev. Sterz, will conduct the church services. Interment is to
be in Oak Hill cemetery and the Rev. Julius Klingmann, pastor of St. Marks'
church, will be in charge of the services at the grave.
Rev. Sterz was the oldest pastor, both in age and in point of service, in
this city, and he was one of the oldest active clergymen in this part of the
state.
Born in Sieglitz, East Prussia on April 15, 1856, Rev. Sterz studied in Berlin
and in 1882 he came to America and completed his studies at the Lutheran
theological seminary at Chicago and in 1885 he was ordained to the ministry in
Golden, Ill. and at the same time was inducted into the pastorate of Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran church of that place.
Rev. Sterz married in 1887 and shortly after moved to Syracuse, N.Y. where he
took over the office of superintendent of the Lutheran orphanage at Syracuse.
His wife died in 1888 and shortly after he returned to Germany for an extended
visit with his parents and upon his return to this country he came to
Wisconsin and was solocitor [sic] for the Lutheran orphange in Green Bay.
In January, 1890 Rev. Sterz accepted a call from St. Luke's congregation of
this city and shortly after took up his duties and served the parish until his
death.
In 1892 Rev. Sterz was married to Miss Ida Noack of this city and she with two
daughters and two sons survive. The children are Mrs. B. Wallschlaeger and
Miss Edna Sterz of Milwaukee, the Rev. Ewald Sterz of Racine and Dr. Percy
Sterz of Milwaukee. Three grandchildren also survive as does a sister in
Germany.
Long Record of Service
The death of Rev. Sterz ends a long record of faithful service in the Lutheran
ministry, a record such as is accomplished by few men. He served in the
ministry for forty-one years and for thirty-seven years was the pastor of
St. Luke's church here.
To his parishoners as well as to countless other people who knew him, Rev.
Sterz was a devoted friend. Always active in his parish duties and never
losing sight of the purpose and teaching of the Master, he labored day after
day among the people of his flock and the kindly and charitable encouragement
that he was always ready to give will ever remain with those who knew him.
Rev. Sterz was particularly the friend of children and no pastor ever was
closer in his association and friendship with the young people and children
of his parish. His service to his parish and to those under his charge will
be readily recognized as the most faithful and efficient a man can give. He
possessed a character which endeared him to all people and more than one
citizen will remember him a preceptor with a father's benevolence. He was a
man of simple habits, devoted to home life and saw in the home the foundation
of all society. He was a familiar figure on the streets of Watertown and was
a dignified gentleman who always responded to a sign of recogntion from those
whom he met.
In his daily life and in his relation with others he displayed the qualities
which command admiration and esteem and Watertown, which was his home for
many years, mourns deeply his loss.
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