grave import

Obituary

Louis Blaul, prominent banker and businessman of Burlington, died at his home on Madison avenue shortly before three o’clock this morning following an illness of several weeks’ duration, his condition becoming critical but a few days ago. His death takes from the community one of its leading residents, a man of sterling qualities, a businessman of rare ability, and with all a home-loving, a genial gentleman who held the best interests of his family and his community uppermost in his mind.
For many years Mr. Blaul has been connected with banking, first with the old First National Bank and later with the First Iowa Trust and Savings company. He served actively with this financial institution and for many years was its president and member of the board of directors. His business foresight and confidence in the community and nation, combined with a high sense of enterprise, guided him in being a leader and supporter of the new building which now is the hone of this banking house and trust company.
His interests have been many. At no time was Louis Blaul called upon for service that that service was not rendered to his city. He has been actively connected with the Burlington Hospital Association and Building company, with the nurse's home, and with the Congregational Church of this city. Farm problems were a part of his daily life and while he was best known publicly for his business activity, it was in his home that he was the ideal citizen, a true husband, and father.
Louis was a lifelong resident of Burlington. He was born October 16, 1863, in this city, the son of M. and Mrs. John Blaul. His education was that of the public schools of Burlington, including both the grades and high school, his studies being continued in business college. On April 17, 1895, he was united in marriage to Bertha Poehler, and she, together with their family survives.
He took an active interest in the John Blaul’s Sons company in about the year 1885 and remained until 1903 when the company was incorporated. At that time he was a member of the board of directors and while he retired from active participation in the business he has always retained his interests there and has always retained his interests there and has watched over the growing industry. While connected there he served first as a bookkeeper and then a cashier and at the time of the firm’s incorporation, he was credit man for the firm.
Mr. Blaul next turned to banking. He came into the Iowa State Savings bank upon the retirement of Edward Hagemann and because of vice president and managing director of the institutions. Although of a retiring disposition, modest and without thought of gaining credit or reward for himself, Mr. Blaul became a power in his world of finance and it was largely through his efforts that the new bank building was erected. At the start of plans for such a structure, the board of directors was by no means a unit in its behalf but Mr. Blaul’s vision prevailed. He gave minute attention to every detail of construction.
On February 22, 1917, upon the death of Mr. Hagemann, Mr. Blaul was elected the bank’s president and he held that position until March 1, 1919, when he retired because of ill health. At the time of his death, he was vice president of the institution, and while in close touch with the bank’s affairs he had turned to his farming interests.
Without undue display- rather in the background, Mr. Blaul by hard work and a keen sense of justice accomplished much for his city and his community. He has had much to do with the Burlington hospital and served as president of the hospital association for many years and has always been an active member of the board and regarded highly. He served on many of the hospital committees and was one of the prime movers on behalf of the establishment and construction of the nurse’s home. More recently he has been connected with the building committee and has assisted in plans for the construction of the proposed new addition.
For nearly twenty years he has been a deacon in the First Congregational Church of Burlington and has been a tower of strength within the church, aiding the cause of religion in every way possible.
It is said of him that this home life was beautiful. For twenty-two years he had resided at his rural residence on Madison Avenue, south of Crapo Park, where he also has a large farm. He has taken a personal interest in his property and his family. Mr. Blaul, while extremely busy, never forfeited his love for the great out of doors. He was a lover of nature, of birds, of all that is beautiful in life. He had and retained friends in all walks of life and his nature was such that his acquaintances could get really close to him and enjoy his geniality, his rare sense of humor and understand his splendid philosophy of life.
Besides his widow, he is survived by two sons John of Yarmouth, and James of Minneapolis, Minn.; 4 daughters, Mrs. Sophia Mathewson of Madison, Mrs. Bertha Barnes of St. Paul, Laura, and Betty Blaul at home. Two brothers and one sister also survive, who are Miss Amelia Blaul, John Blaul, and Theodore Blaul, all of Burlington. Another Brother, Charles Blaul, died in December.
Funeral services for Louis Blaul will be held from the home on Madison Avenue at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon. Dr. Naboth Osborne, the pastor of the Congregational church, who was reached in Melbourne Beach, Fla., Saturday night, will be returning to Burlington at once, and he will be in charge of the services.
The pallbearers will be William Gillman, William Plock, George Swiler, JJ Seerlyk, Oscar Biklen and Wm. Kurrle.