| Notes |
- North Tonawanda NY Evening News - 9/25/1959
Louis a Wilke, 81, a founder
and one of the most active mem-
bers of Grace Lutheran Church,
North Tonawanda, died today in
DeGrass Memorial Hospital after
a short illness.
His death terminated a 52-year
record of perfect attendance at
the church's Sunday School.
Mr. Wilke, a lifelong resident of
North Tonawanda, was treasurer
of Wagenschuetz Hardware Inc ,
230 Oliver St., where he had
been employed since he was 14
iyears old.
n 1956 Mr. Wilke received a
golden hammer from the Estwing
Manufacturing Co. of Rockford,
Ill., whose products he sold
throughout his 67-year career at
the store. The hammer commem-
orated 60 years' service in the
hardware industry.
Grace Lutheran Church was or-
ganized 53 years ago in the third-
floor hall of Mr. Wilke's hard-
ware store, on Jan. 21, 1906.
His numerous activities in con-
nection with the church include
the position as a Sunday School
superintendent for 25 years, and
as the church's financial secre-
tary for 20 years.
He was the first president of
the grace Lutheran Brotherhood
in 1920 and 1921, and had served
as president of the New York
State Luther League, the Buffalo
Luther League, his church's first
bowling league, the Union Broth-
erhood, the Grace Lutheran
Church, the Retail Credit Bureau
and the Church cabinet. He was
vice president of the Twin City
Council of Churches from 1939 to
1942.
He regularly attended synod
and other meetings all over the
country, was several times elect-
ed a delegate to the United Lu-
theran Church conventions and
held numerous offices in Luther-
an groups.
Arrangements are being made
at the Brunner Funeral Home, 156
Robinson St., North Tonawanda.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday
in the Grace Lutheran Church.
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1878 - 1959 (~ 81 years)