Newspaper clipping [no date or newpaper name]:
Ferdinand Thomas Dies; Services on Monday
Ferdinand (Fred) Thomas, 87, Columbus, died early this morning at the
Morys Nursing home. In failing health the past several years, Mr.
Thomas was seriously ill since the latter part of May. Funeral services
will be held 9 a.m. Monday at St. Bonaventure Catholic church with the
Rev. Fr. Roch Hettinger in charge. Burial will be at Lindsay. The body
will lie in state at the McKown Funeral home from 1 p.m. Sunday until
the time of the service. Rosary will be prayed at 8 p.m. Sunday at the
funeral home. Mr. Thomas, a native of Germany, was born March 19, 1867,
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Thomas. He married Agnes Schnek in
Germany, and in the 1890's he brought his family to Columbus. He worked
as a mason for a number of years, then farmed in this vicinity for
about 23 years. Since then he lived in Columbus. He was a member of St.
Bonaventure church and held membership in the Sons of Hermann lodge.
Surviving are six sons, Herman of Newman Grove, Adolph of Albion, Ray
of Wyandotte, Mich., Joe of Platte Center, Fritz of Norfolk, Rudolph of
South Dakota; six daughters, Mrs. William (Erna) Steiner of Humphrey,
Mrs. Rudolph (Margaret) Steiner of Clarkson, Mrs. Henry (Veronica)
Kuhlen of Platte Center; Mrs. Frederick (Rose) Hoffman of Battle Creek,
Mrs. Everett (Martha) Jones of Columbus, Mrs. Paul (Hildegard) Franks
of Wyandotte, Mich.; 69 grandchildren and 75 great grandchildren; and
brothers and sisters in Germany. His wife died in 1932, and he was also
preceded in death by a son and two daughters, who died in infancy; a
son, Helmuth, who died in 1946; and one sister and two brothers who
came to the United States with him.