Death wrote the finishing words in the well spent life of Mrs. Maria Grau, who passed away at her home on Madison Street, Saturday noon, October 27, 1934, following an illness of many years. Apparently of a strong constitution, her health began to fail soon after she retired from active farm life. Receiving the best of care her condition improved to the extent that her children predicted a complete recovery and then again she sank away where she became almost helpless.

Maria Dorothea Hansen Grau was born in Sehestedt, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany on the 4th day of January, 1863. She was the oldest daughter of Peter and Ida Hansen. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith a the age of 11 years.
In March 1881 she emigrated with her parents to the United States and settled in West Side, Iowa.

On January 20, 1885 the deceased was united in marriage to August F. Grau who proceeded her in death twelve years ago.
This union was blessed with seven children all of whom are living except Johnny who died at the age of four years.

Right after their marriage they went to farming on her father's farm where they farmed for five years. In March 1891, they purchased a farm in Audubon County where they moved and lived for 16 years, moving from there in 1907 to another farm one and one-half miles north east of Manning, which they had purchased and lived there until their retirement. In 1916 they moved to their beautiful home on Madison Street where she resided until her passing from this life Saturday noon, October 27, 1934.

She survived several operations and her suffering was great during these afflictions. Twice she was in the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where she received relief. The first time was in the year 1917 and again in 1927. Each time she was confined to St. Mary's for eight weeks, after which she was able to stay at home where she received the loving and tender care of her children, fulfilling her desire to remain at home amongst her loved ones until her angel of death released her spirit and bore her soul to that land where there is no pain or death, at the age of 74 years, 9 months and 13 days.

She leaves to mourn her passing six children, two sons and four daughters: Emil, Sophia (Mrs. James Rothfolk), Ida (Mrs. August Kusel), Clara (Mrs. Frank Cox), Herman who lived with his mother until her death, all of Manning, and Laura (Mrs. Elmer Alwill) of Botna, Iowa.

She also leaves 15 grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. H.W. Meyers; and five brothers, Adolph, John L. August, Theodore and Herman Hansen all of Manning, and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, October 30 at the Ohde Funeral Home, the Rev. Harry Coates of Woodward, Iowa, officiating.

Interment was made in the Manning cemetery. As pallbearers were Jurgen Joens, Hannes Meggers, John Oppermann, Charles Burs, Henry Steen and Eggert Puck.

Mrs. Grau was of industrious habits and by hard work she was able to make her own way since a girl of 14 years old. She was truthful, honest and faithful and trained her children in a like manner. She was a loving mother to her children and will be greatly missed in the family circle. May her soul rest in peace.

Out of town relatives and friends attending the funeral were Mrs. Emma Grau and Dr. Amandus Grau of Denison; Mrs. C.D. Grau, Lake View; Henry Heesch, Pipestone, Minnesota; Mary Mess, Christina Mess and Henrietta Mess of Arcadia; Mrs. Clara Grau, Mrs. Fred Grau and Mrs. Emil Lahann of Arcadia; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hoffmann, Mr. and Mrs. Loren Stoelk, Mr. and Mrs. August Bernhoft, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Benning of West Side; Mr. Tom Alwill and daughter Vernine, Mrs. Bob Doonan and Mrs. Bert Erb of Botna and Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Grau of Manilla and Frank Meyer of Carroll.