Gottlieb-Henry-Bresser-75244

Obituary

Gottlieb Henry Bresser, 88, of 113 ½ Court, retired blacksmith and horseshoer, died Saturday at 1:15 pm in Burlington Hospital.
He had been in comparatively good health until he suffered a stroke last Saturday.
A native of Burlington, he was born April 7, 1864, on Corse Street. He was a man of varied skills. As a boy, he helped Sexton Fred Licht dig graves in Aspen Grove Cemetery. He helped mould bricks when brickmaking was a thriving industry. As a blacksmith, he worked at the West Burlington shops and at various points on the Santa Fe railroad. As a horsehoer, he shod many horses in Burlington. For many years, he shod horses in a brick structure near Valley and Third.
Among his accomplishments was woodcarving. He had whittled the likenesses of many prominent people, including Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, CE Perkins, and PM Crapo were also subjects of his carving. He also carried one of a collection of canes, covered with intricate designs.
During his life, Bresser had several escapes from death in accidents. He carried the scar of one kick by an unruly horse.
His home was an apartment over his former shop on Corse Street.
Bresser’s wife, the former Sadie Oxley, died in 1936.
He was a member of First Methodist church and had been a member of Mystic Lodge of Odd Fellows at Mt. Pleasant for more than 65 years.
Surviving are a son, Henry Bresser, of Burlington, and a stepson, Ira O. Wright, of Keokuck. A brother and 2 sisters are dead.
The body was taken to Prugh’s chapel.
Services will be at 10:30 am Tuesday in Prugh’s chapel. Rev. Deane Chapman, pastor of First Methodist church, will officiate and burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery.