Person:Fern Elizabeth Marzolf (1)

OBITUARY

Fern Elizabeth Marzolf Nauvoo's Brightest Young Girl Dies Won Many Honors Death Sad Blow to All

A grief so hard to bear that it seems almost impossible to think it true, came to this community Saturday evening, October 4, 1930, at five o'clock, when Miss Fern Marzolf passed away at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Marzolf of this city. Her death was due to tuberculosis of the throat, following an operation of removal of tonsils. While her passing was not unexpected, and doctors had given her little hope, yet she was so eager to get well and tried so hard, that even until a short time ago, some hopes were still felt for her recovery.

Fern Elizabeth Marzolf, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Marzolf, was born in Nauvoo, June 19, 1909, and was 21 years, 3 months and 15 days of age. She attended the Nauvoo public grade and high schools, graduating from the latter in the class of 1927. In both of these schools, records show that she made the highest grades ever earned by a student there. While still in the grade school, she won the Hancock county spelling match, and was one of the winners of the state spelling match at Springfield the same year. At the age of 14 she was confirmed in Christ Lutheran church of this city, and has ever since remained a faithful member. She was also a member of the Luther League of that church.

While a student in the Nauvoo high school, she was the winner of the Lincoln Essay contest medal given at Springfield; also won one of the Current Literature prizes, in which students from all over the United States competed. She was vice-president of her class in 1924, as a freshman; secretary of the class as a sophomore; president of her class in her junior year; editor of “The Senior Torch” as a senior; president of the Tusitalia Literary Society; secretary of the Girl Reserves, 1924, '25, '26; treasurer of the Girl Reserves, 1927; member of the girls' basket ball team, 1926; yell leader, 1927; prominent in school dramatics, 1925, '26 and '27.

Fern was a girl who was always a general favorite wherever she was known. Her friendly, sunny, disposition, kindness of heart, her keen, ready wit, and her remarkable brilliance of mind could not help but make her popular with all. She entered whole-heartedly into all school life, in both a social and intellectual way, and by her splendid example, furnished an incentive to the whole school to raise their standards of attainment.

She graduated from Nauvoo high school in 1927, and the following September entered Bradley Polytechnic Institute at Peoria. There she again won high honors, her name appearing on the Bradley scholarship roll of honor of that year. She was also a member of the all-star hockey and basketball teams there.

For the past two years she has been in California, with her brother Mason. There she attended Redlands University. The past year she earned the highest average of tll the 1,700 students in Redlands University. She was a member of the Sigma Tau Delta Sorority, an honorary English society for the school.

Late in June she came home for a visit. For some time past she had had trouble with her tonsils, and had been treated by the best of physicians in California, non of whom, however, told her there was any cause for alarm. The trip home seemed hard on her, coming part way in a car with friends and her family felt uneasy at her frail appearance. She became somewhat ill almost at once, and the family took her immediately to St. Joseph's hospital at Keokuk. A number of specialists were consulted, but all agreed that practically nothing could be done. They advised that she be brought to her home, and this was done. She was cheery and hopeful, but grew steadily worse. Her brother, Mason, came from California to be with her as soon as it was found her illness was serious. She was engaged to be married to Mr. Leo Papendick, of Redlands, Calif., and he also come some time ago and has remained at her bedside. She is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Marzolf, brothers Mason and Walter, and one sister, Virginia; her aged grandmothers, Mrs. Katherine Koehler and Mrs. Mary Marzolf, a large number of aunts, uncles and cousins, and friends by the score.

The funeral was held Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock from her late home, and at 3:30 from the Lutheran church, Rev. B. Reck, the pastor, officiating. The floral offerings were many and beautiful, showing the great esteem in which she was held. Pall-bearers were: Kenneth Ort, Calvin Neve, Willis Diemer, Richard Schneider, Carl and Meryl Schenk, all schoolmates or old friends. Burial was in the Nauvoo cemetery.

Among those from out of town attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Prosper Lemoine and daughter Marie, and Mrs. George Egert, of Peoria; Alvin Marzolf, of Pekin; Carrie and Will Meister, of Keokuk.