Mrs. Catherine Armbrust Weil was a resident of Warren County for over fifty years. On November 27, 1913 at her home near Lida, Iowa, occurred the death of Mrs. Catherine Weil, widow of the late Casper Weil.

Catherine Armbrust was born in Alsace Lorraine, France on August 5, 1835. When she was but two years old her parents immigrated to America, settling in Lima, Ohio. In 1852 at the age of 17, she married Casper Weil. Two years later, the young couple came to Iowa in a prairie schooner, settling near Winterset, where they lived for a few years. They then moved to their home in Lida, where Mrs. Weil died, having lived there for over fifty years.

Mrs. Weil was the mother of fourteen children, seven of whom died at infancy, seven sons grew to manhood, two of them dying in 1910 and 1911. Joseph, the eldest and the Rev. Father Edward F. Weil were the two. Those surviving are Casper, Peter, and Christian of Churchville, Iowa, Conrad and Charles of St. Louis, a brother William Armbrust of Burlington, Ill., thirty grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Mrs. Weil was a fervent and sincere Christian, a fond and loving mother, a kind and obliging neighbor, a faithful cheerful friend, and in the words of her pastor, a holy woman. To have lived the pioneer life of early days and to have raised a family of seven sons to reputable and estimable citizens, to have held the respect and esteem of the entire neighborhood for a period of fifty years, it seems will merit the “well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou to thy reward” and so gained a crown eternal.

The funeral was held Monday morning from Immaculate Conception Church in Churchville. Requiem Mass was celebrated by Rev. J. J. Condon, assisted by Rev. Joseph A. Minch of St Mary’s as Deacon; Rev. M. F. Dugan of Irish Settlement as sub-deacon and Rev. Francis Larken of Waukee as master of ceremonies. Her five sons and one grandson, Andrew Weil were pall bearers.

Those out of town attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Weil and daughter, Charles Weil and son, of St. Louis, MO. Miss Helen Weil, L H Kurts, Mrs. Mary Weil and daughters, Rose, Dora and sons Andrew and Frank of Waukee, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Weil of Perry, Mrs. Kate Darly of Des Moines and Mrs. Geo Aglen.