WROTE BY BENJAMIN NUSSBAUM IN 1973

REVISED BY DERRICK K. BABBS IN 2002

FOR YEARS RUDOLPH VON BERGEN TOOK CARE OF THE FURNACE DURING THE DAY, LIGHTED THE LAMPS IN THE EVENING, AND PERFORMED THOSE TASKS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO EVERYONE’S COMFORT AND WELL-BEING. A THERMOMETER HUNG FROM THE CEILING OVER THE SPOT WHERE RUDOLPH USUALLY SAT NEAR THE CENTER OF THE ASSEMBLY ROOM. HE COULD THUS EASILY OBSERVE THE TEMPERATURE AND PROPERLY REGULATE THE FURNACE. WHEN ATTENDANCE WAS LARGE, ESPECIALLY DURING EXTREMELY HOT OR COLD WEATHER, IT WAS ALSO NECESSARY FOR HIM TO ADJUST THE WINDOW OPENING TO INSURE ADEQUATE VENTILATION. IN LATER YEARS THIS PARTICULAR TASK SOMEHOW FELL TO ALBERT STEFFEN AND TO THE SAME, HE WAS VERY ATTENTIVE.

RUDOLPH WAS ALSO ASSISTED BY JOHN MAURER, WILL WAGLER, ED AND WALTER STEFFEN WHO WOULD COME EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING AND GET A FIRE STARTED TO MAKE THE CHURCH COMFORTABLE.

RUDOLPH VON BERGEN DIES IN SEVENTY-SEVENTH YEAR

RUDOLPH VON BERGEN, HIGHLY ESTEEMED RESIDENT OF THIS CITY AND COMMUNITY DURING THE PAST 48 YEARS, PASSED AWAY AT HIS HOME AT 411 SOUTH FOURTH STREET, MONDAY MORNING AT 10:30 O’CLOCK. HE HAD BEEN IN DECLINING HEALTH FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

MR. VON BERGEN WAS BORN AT BERNE, SWITZERLAND, FEBRUARY 5, 1863. HE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1883, GOING FIRST TO TREMONT, WHERE HE MADE HIS HOME FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS. IN 1891 HE CAME TO FAIRBURY AND WAS MARRIED TO MISS BARBARA KILGUS IN 1892. THEY MADE THEIR HOME ON A FARM SOUTH OF FAIRBURY. MRS. VON BERGEN DIED IN 1918.

HE WAS MARRIED TO MRS. EMMA KILGUS IN 1920. HE RETIRED FROM THE FARM AND MADE HIS HOME IN THIS CITY.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE AND THREE SISTER: MRS. ANNA PFIESTER, MISS CHRISTINA VON BERGEN AND MISS MARY VON BERGEN, ALL OF MANSFIELD, O.; AND ONE BROTHER, CARL VON BERGEN, OF BREMEN, IND., AND ONE ADOPTED SON, ALBERT VON BERGEN, WHO RESIDES ON THE FARM SOUTHEAST OF THIS CITY.

FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AT 1:30 O’CLOCK AT THE APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH. BURIAL WAS IN GRACELAND CEMETERY.

MR. VON BERGEN’S DEATH IS KEENLY FELT BY HIS MANY FRIENDS IN THIS COMMUNITY. HE WAS A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND FRIEND TO ALL, ALWAYS READY TO LEND A HELPING HAND.

HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL NEWSLETTER CREATOR