Notes:

NORTH TONAWANDA - Rev. Otto C. Bruss, 85, of 6634 Rohr St., Bergholtz, a fomer pastor of St. James Lutheran Church for 45. years, died Tuesday (Feb, 5,.1963) at
Niagara Falls' Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. Born in Germany, the Rev. Mr. Bruss came to the United States with his parents when he was a child. The Rev.'Mr. Bruss was a gradaute of Martin Luther Seminary, Buffalo, in 1897. He served parishes in Illinois, Medina, and Michigan. He went to St. James Church, Bergholtz, on Jan. 2, 1912, and stayed until he retired in 1957. Thev pastor was a former president of the American Lutheran Synod, Buffalo District, and former secretary of
the original Buffalo Synod. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Raymond (Erna) Mielke, Mrs. Charles (Ariel) Greinert, and Mrs. Donald (Elfrieda) Decker, all of Niagara Falls; two sons, Roland W. and Gerald H. Bruss, both of the Town of Wheatfield, 10 grand children, and 17 great grandchildren. Friends may call until 10 a.m. Thursday at Fretthold Funeral Home and at St. James Church from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, followed by services. Burial will be in St. James Lutheran Cemetery.

Otto married GRABAU, Grace Minna on 3 Jul 1901 in Buffalo, Erie County, NY. Grace (daughter of GRABAU, Rev Prof Wilhelm Heinrich and TOBSHAL, Minna) was born on 20 Jun 1880 in Cedarburg, Ozaukee County, WI; died on 24 Jan 1947 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. BRUSS, Roland W was born on 22 Apr 1902 in Columbia Township, Tuscola County, MI; died on 5 Jun 1971 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY.
2. BRUSS, Gerald H was born on 17 Feb 1904 in Columbia Township, Tuscola County, MI; died on 4 Jul 1982 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY.
3. BRUSS, Erna O was born on 18 Feb 1906 in Columbia Township, Tuscola County, MI; died on 15 Dec 1992 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY.
4. BRUSS, Ariel M was born on 6 Sep 1907 in Columbia Township, Tuscola County, MI; died on 21 Nov 1978 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY.
5. BRUSS, Elfrieda R was born on 16 Apr 1911 in Columbia Township, Tuscola County, MI; died on 31 Mar 1986 in Niagara County, NY.

Otto married LEUPOLD, Olga B on 1 Nov 1950 in Bergholtz, Town of Wheatfield, Niagara County, NY. Olga (daughter of LEUPOLD, John and GRABAU, Clara) was born in 1896 in Buffalo, Erie County, NY; died on 26 Mar 1955 in Town of Wheatfield, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 11/2/1950

BERGHOLTZ, Nov. 2—St James
Lutheran church was the setting at 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon for the
marriage of Miss Olga. B. Leupold,
Buffalo, and the Rev. Otto Brass,
pastor of St. James church. The Rev.
Mr. Brass has been pastor of the local
church for the last 39 years.
The Rev. Rudolph Grabau, D.D.,
Buffalo, uncle of the bride, performed
the ceremony before an altar
banked with yellow chrysanthemums.
Mrs. Fred Sommerfelt, Buffalo, sang
"O Perfect Love** accompanied by
Mr. Theodore Grabau at the organ.
The bride chase a teal blue streetlength
dress, pink hat and matching
accessories. Her corsage was of pink
roses.
Mrs. Elsie Macholtz was matron
of honor, wearing green silk with
white accessories and a corsage of
white roses.
Roland Brass, Niagara road, son
of the Rev. Brass, was the best man.
The wedding dinner was held at the
Plantation restaurant for the immediate
families. White chrysanthemums
centered the bride's table. At
9 p.m. a reception followed at the
parsonage, which was decorated with
yellow and white chrysanthemums.
Cake and coffee were served.
Out of town guests included the
Rev. and Mrs. Rudolph Grabau and
Hugo Grabau, Mr. and Mrs. Fred
sommerfelt, Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph
Grabau, Jr., Miss Hilda Kinderman,
Miss Norma Grabau, all of Buffalo;
the Rev. and Mrs. Edward Grabau,
North Tonawanda, and Miss Minnie
Hoffmeister, Niagara Falls.
The bride, who was an employe at
Hens and Kelly's in Buffalo, was delightfully
surprised by her co-workers
attending the reception. They included:
Mrs. Sadie Fritz, Mrs. Marge
Eibl, Mrs. Robert Pattern, Mrs. C.
Ernst, Mrs. Mary Pfiffer, Mrs. Jeanc
Cleary, Mrs. Laura Atmatage, Mrs.
Elsie Macholtz, Mrs. Lillian Robertson,
Mrs. Evelyn Lemienz and Mrs.
Lillian Mendelson.
After a week's trip to New York
City the "couple will return to the
parsonage in Bergholtz.
On November 12 the congregation
will give a reception in honor of the
Rev. and Mrs. Brass in the school
hall. Supper will be served at 5:30
p. m.
In absence of the pastor of St
James church for this Sunday, Dr.
Rudolph Grabau will preach the sermon.
There will be one service
only at 10:45 o'clock.

Franz married WEGNER, Caroline Wilhelmine Auguste on 19 May 1865 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Caroline (daughter of WEGNER, Wilhelm and MILLER, Dorothea) was born on 9 May 1841 in Germany; died on 24 Jun 1937 in Bergholtz, Town of Wheatfield, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bruss Rites Today
NORTH TONAWANDA, June 26- Rites will be held this afternoon at 12 o'clock from the residence and at 2:30 o'clock from the St. James church in Bergholtz (sic) for Mrs. Caroline Bruss, 96 years old, who died at the home of her son, Rev. Otto Bruss, in that village Thursday night. The body will be taken to Milwaukee, Wis., for burial. Mrs. Bruss was born in Germany. She had resided in America 56 years. She lived in Milwaukee before coming to Bergholtz (sic) 22 years ago to reside.

Wilhelm + MILLER, Dorothea. Dorothea and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]