Friederike Ruesse’s Death (1895) On Thursday, April 18, 1895, Friederike’s son, George Voss, marries Wilhelmina “Minnie” Schumacher. They are married at St. John’s Evangelical Church in Plum Hill. The best man is Rike’s 26-year-old stepson and George’s stepbrother, Frank Ruesse. It is not known whether Rike’s health permits her to attend. (L170) Two and a half months later, on Saturday, July 5, 1895, Friederike (Miko) Voss Ruesse dies at her farmhouse. Attendance at her funeral is one of the largest ever held at St. John’s Evangelical Church in Plum Hill. She is buried on July 6 in an unmarked grave at the cemetery located behind the church. Rike is 57-years-old. She dies of dropsy, that is, congestive heart failure. Rike’s life was filled with memories. It is reasonable to assume that in her later years Rike reflected on her growing up in the German state of Mecklenburg Schwerin. These memories would have included her parents, possible siblings, friends, marriage to Johann Voss, and those things, happy and sad, that she left behind when she came to America. …show more content…
Louis for the first time undoubtedly stayed with her until the day she died. Rike reflected on her life in St. Louis in the 1860’s and early 1870’s. Especially vivid was arriving and living in the all-German neighborhood of Soulard and meeting new friends. Her recollections included the long voyage crossing the ocean with Johann and his joining the army and being stationed at nearby forts. As she looked back she saw good memories, but also very sad ones. Giving birth to and then getting to know three of her children only to then watch them die and be buried is a heartache she never fully got over. Finally, there is the memory of Johann’s suffering prior to his death and then having to bury her husband while being left with two small children to raise. Yes, there were some good memories, but also remembrances that triggered