ODESSA CATHOLIC CEMETERY

Bold print signifies tombstone data; Underscored items signifies burial in Old Odessa Catholic Cemetery, but no visible tombstone.

“John S Brown, who died at the Deaconess Hospital Spokane Tuesday afternoon, was brought to Odessa for burial Wednesday, the funeral service being held from the Catholic Church Friday morning. Father McAleer of Harrington officiated and interment was in the Catholic Cemetery. The deceased had suffered for 13 weeks from inflammation of the liver which had resulted in multiple abscesses. He was taken to Spokane about five weeks ago where it was found that an operation was necessary, but the sufferer refused to give his consent although he grew weaker and his pains more acute. It was not until a few hours before his death that, driven to the verge of madness by the pain, he gave his consent. A brother, Tony Brown, and a sister, Mrs. John Silva, mourn his death. He had been a farmer in this locality for many years and was 36 years of age.” (Odessa Record of July 1, 1910)

(Listed in 1974 Tombstone Inscriptions by Lartigues. No stone now.) Obit dated Nov 1, 1918 in Odessa Record, “Miss Cleo Finstead died Tuesday, at the age of 14 years. She is the daughter of O. E. Finstead. Death was caused from influenza and tuberculosis. Interment occurred in St Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.”

GEISSLER, ,Death is the Crown of Life , (Center family marker, iron fence, 3 head stones, no foot markers)

“Death claimed another old resident of the Odessa country yesterday when Mrs. F. J. Geissler passed away at her home southeast of town from that dread disease, cancer. Mrs. Geissler had been a woman of unusual strength and vigor until about a year ago, when she first began to feel the effects of her ailment and from that time she began to fail slowly until the first of October when she was taken to Spokane for an operation, when it was learned that the malady had already done its fatal work and that life for her was but a matter of a few months. Knowledge of the identity of her complaint was mercifully kept from her and not until she neared the end did she even suspect the exact cause of all her trouble. For the past two months her suffering was intense, but she retained all her faculties until the last and bore it with patience and fortitude that portrayed a strong Christian character and faith undaunted by the trials of the world. Mrs. Geissler’s maiden name was Agnes Snyder, she was born at Lomon, WI, on March 28, 1870. On the 4^th of April 1888 she came to Pomeroy, WA, to be united in marriage with Frank J. Geissler and a year later they came to the Ritzville country and at that time located on the very out edge of the farming community, which as so on as the Great Northern came through became Odessa territory. They lived on this ranch for 29 years and witnessed the locality in which they settled grow to be one of the richest sections of Eastern Washington. Neighbors everywhere testify as to her kind acts and good deeds in time of need and trouble and no one knows better of her sympathetic nature than the writer, for at the hospital, as soon as she was able to first be placed in a wheel chair, her first visit was to the bedside of his little son who occupied an adjoining room, to offer him encouragement and hope for recovery, which was not to come. Besides her husband, four children are left to mourn her loss, Mrs. G. P. Weber, Edward Geissler and the Misses Irene and Emily Geissler. Her first-born, Frank M. Geissler, having preceded his mother through the valley and the shadow about six weeks ago and no one doubts that his death also hastened that of his mother. Funeral services will be held at the Catholic Church Monday morning at 10:30 o’clock, Rev Fr Phillip officiating, after which interment will be held at the Catholic Cemetery.” (Odessa Record-Jan 28, 1916)

“F. G. Geissler received a telegram Wednesday informing him that his son, Frank M. Geissler had just died at Denver, Colorado, of tuberculosis. The deceased has been in poor health for several years and but meager returns can be had at this writing as to the circumstances leading up to his death, when he left his home for treatment under Dr Tilden at Denver on Thanksgiving Day it was not known even to his parents that he was afflicted with tuberculosis and the first returns from the physician were encouraging and he was expected to be able to return to Odessa in an improved state of health. A week ago, however, the tide turned against him and on Tuesday a message came stating that he could not long survive and only a day later the report of his death. His remains are expected to arrive on the Burlington train No 43 Sunday when they will be taken to the Stone undertaking parlors where his many friends will be privileged to observe them until Monday morning when the funeral services will take place at the St Josephs Catholic Church at 10:30 o’clock, in which Rev Fr. Carl Phillip will officiate.” (Odessa Record-Dec 17, 1915)

HAVLICAK, LOUIS, 1901-1920 “Louis Havlicak. Died: 22 May 1921, age 19, King County , WA . Father: Tom Havlicak. Mother: Sophia Nefrish (sic). Batch id #275811.” (WA State Death Records

The death certificate of Thomas Havlicak was filed with Lincoln County Health. He was born 3-16-1842 and died 4-06-1916. His father was Jacob Havlicak, born in Bohemia. His mother was Mary Flenesh, born in Bohemia. The cause of death for Thomas was listed as ptomaine poisoning, with burial noted at Catholic Cemetery in Odessa. The informant was not specified. (Lincoln Co Auditor) “Thomas Havlicak, a pioneer of this vicinity, died at his home northeast of Odessa yesterday of ptomaine poisoning after an illness of only four days. Mr. Havlicak was 74 years of age, and was taken ill Monday after eating some canned salmon and gradually grew worse until death relieved his suffering. He was born in Bohemia and when a young lad emigrated to Chicago, which was then only a small place. He resided there about 20 years when he moved to Jackson County, MN from whence he came to Odessa about 15years ago. He was an honest, hardworking, honorable gentleman, one of the kind that commanded and received the respect of all classes and sects of people and one that will be missed often by many friends. He leaves to mourn his loss a wife and ten children, 7 boys and 3 girls. Arrangements for funeral services have not yet been completed, but they will be held Monday.” (Odessa Record-April 7, 1916)

“Mrs. Sophia Havlicak, aged pioneer of the Odessa region, died at the family home here on Thursday noon, following an illness of several weeks duration. The family came here many years ago from Jackson, MN, locating on a homestead in the Odessa region. Her

husband, the former Thomas Havlicak, died about 18 years ago, and since then she has made her home with her son, Tom. The body is in the care of Strate’s Undertaking parlor. The funeral will be held from the Catholic Church, with burial in the Odessa cemetery, beside the body of her husband.” (Odessa Record-Oct 12, 1934) “Mrs Sophia Havlicak, 70, who died at the home of a son here on Thursday, was buried from St Joseph’s Catholic Church on Monday morning, the Rev Father John Glaser reading high mass. Burial was made in the family plot at the Odessa Cemetery, H. H. Strate in charge. Mrs.. Havlicak was born in Austria-Hungary and came to the United States when a girl. She lived for a time in North Carolina. She was married in Chicago and lived for many years in Jackson Co, MN. She and her husband, with their family, came to the Odessa region in 1901 and homesteaded land north of here. Her husband died in 1916 and for the next seven years she remained on the farm, ranching with her sons. The family moved to Odessa and she lived with her son, Thomas, until her death. Pallbearers were selected from church members and friends of the family, including, James Vostral, Tony Neves, Mike Nichols Sr., Joe Silva, Julius Dietrich and A. L. Minard. Survivors include six sons, Thomas, Odessa; Joseph, Frank, John, Henry and William, all of American Falls, Idaho; and two daughters, Mrs. Anna Smith and Mrs. Sophia Praetorius, both of Odessa.” (Odessa Record-Oct 19, 1934)

Adams Co Death Certificate of Emma Horak dated Nov 18, 1935. Born July 6, 1883. Age 52 yrs, 4 mos, 12 dys. Housewife. Born Silver Lake, MN. Father = Joe Zicka; Mother = Mary Pokluba. Both parents born Czechoslovakia. Informant = Louis Horak, Sr of Odessa, WA. Death occurred at 8:30 AM on 11-18-1935; cause of death Bactenemia; contributory = paranasal sinusitus; 4 days duration; Signed L. J. Bonney, MD on Nov 8, 1935. Burial Catholic Cemetery of Odessa, WA, date of Burial Nov 21, 1935. Undertaker = H. H. Strate, Odessa, WA. (Adams Co Auditor) “Mrs Louis Horak, Sr., 52 died on Monday morning at her ranch home south of Odessa. She was born in Silver Lake, MN, and in early childhood came to Odessa with her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Zicha. Thirty-one years ago she married Mr. Horak and they settled on a ranch seven miles southeast of here. Survivors include her widower and seven children, Mrs. Mary Rodland, Grand Coulee, WA; Mrs. Helen Ellis, Wenatchee; Mrs. Dorothy Mayzelle, Calder, ID; Mrs. Amelia Lesser, Endicott, WA; and Agnes, Louis Jr., and Frank, Odessa; 3 brothers, George and Louis Zicha of Odessa and Frank Zicha of Idaho; 7 sisters: Mrs. A. M. Michaelsen, Colfax; Mrs. Rose Davis, Pocatello, ID; Mrs. A. T Wraspir, American Falls, ID; Mrs. John Shimek, Tacoma; Mrs. John Svoboda, Puyallup, and Mrs. James Vostral, Odessa. Funeral services were held from the St Josephs Catholic Church on Thursday morning with the Rev Father L. C. Boehm officiating. Pallbearers included James, Joe and Rudolph Vostral, Tony Groh, Frank Groh and Julius Dettrich, with Henry Vostral as alternate. Burial was made in the Odessa Cemetery.” (Odessa Record-Nov 22, 1935)

HORAK, LOUIS, 1873-1958

“Funeral services were held from St Joseph Catholic church on Wednesday morning for Louis Horak Sr., 84, one of the early pioneers of the area. The Rev Fr. Roy E. Thelen officiated, with burial in the old Catholic Cemetery, under direction of the Strate Funeral Home. Pall bearers included Louis Kremsreiter, James Kadlec, Frank Groh, M. Totusek, William Geissler and Al Wagner. Mr. Horak was born in Czechoslovakia and at the age of 15 years came to America. He lived for a time in Steel County, MN, near the community of Silver Lake. There he became a United States citizen in 1886. He homesteaded south of Odessa in 1900, the homestead now part of the home place, with the land he bought later. He recalls that there was only the G. W. Finney home here when he first saw Odessa. Mr. Horak filled a full place in the early life of the community, and was one of the first directors of the Odessa Union Warehouse Company. He was married in 1901 to Miss Emma Zicha who died in 1935. In 1943 Mr. Horak left the ranch and went to Silver Lake to make his home with a brother, Joe, and returned to this area in 1953 to make his home at Spokane, where he died Saturday evening. Survivors include seven children, Mrs. Mary Peet, Seattle; Louis Horak, Jr., Columbia Falls, Montana; Mrs. Helen Elliott, Odessa; Mrs. Dorothy Marzulli, St Maries, Idaho; Mrs. Amelia Lesser, Spokane; Frank Horak, Odessa; and Mrs. Agnes Wilson, Seattle; 21 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.” (Odessa Record: 1-24-1958)

Feb 28, 1902 Odessa Record announced the birth of a boy to Mr. & Mrs. Louis Horak, six miles south of Odessa. On March 14, 1902 the Odessa Record stated that the infant child of Mr. & Mrs. Louis Horak died on Saturday last and was buried Sunday. (Catholic Territorial Ledger in Latin lists: Morticus die 1 Martii AD 1902 infans Ludovocici Horak & Emmae Zichae….)

May 10, 1918 Odessa Record obituary, “The funeral of little Richard Janikula, who died at his home in Odessa of pneumonia last Friday, was held Sunday at St Josephs church. Rev Karl Phillip conducted the services and spoke in words of sympathy and comfort and of deepest Christian hope and promise. Miss Rose Lowe and Miss Agnes Kucera sung with beauty and sweetness several appropriate selections. The floral offerings, gifts from sympathetic friends was one of the largest ever seen in Odessa. Thus a baby life so full of blessings that as his father informed us, he thought it could be taken from him by death, was permitted to bloom only for a brief season and then recalled to his Maker, leaving the earth road for his parents dark and lonely indeed. After the funeral the little fellow’s remains were laid to rest in the Catholic Cemetery on the hill south of town.”

(Family sources indicate that Frank Groh’s tombstone was etched incorrectly due to the language obstacles encountered in early days in this area. Frank was married in Russia to Amelia Helena Hebel. They migrated through Minnesota. Nine known children were born to them, 7 boys and 2 girls. The 1902 census shows Frank and Amelia with Frank, 13, Anton, 10, Clemens, 4, and Marie, 2. Amelia remarried and was the wife of Julius Dettrich. Amelia had two sons by Julius: Julius and Alois. Amelia and Julius are buried in the Odessa City Catholic cemetery.)

====================================================
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
          free information on the Internet, data may be used by
          non-commercial entities, as long as this message
          remains on all copied material. These electronic pages
          may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or
          for presentation by other persons or organizations.
             Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
          for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
          written consent of the file contributor.
          This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb.
=====================================================