grave import

Obituary

Death came this morning to Emil Baumle, Burlington merchant, and valued citizen, whose retirement from active business life was announced scarcely a month ago.
Mr. Baumle had been in ill health for several years, and although his immediate friends and members of his family realized the seriousness of his condition, it was not until the last few weeks that his many acquaintances throughout the community learned of the facts, and only since Thanksgiving has he been confined to his home.
Emil Baumle was born and raised and died all in one city block in Burlington. On April 19, 1874, he was born in a little house that still stands at the corner of Madison and Acres streets. After his marriage to Miss Bertha Schaefer on September 11, 1901, he made his home at the corner of Dodge and Madison where death came to him this morning.
At the age of fourteen years, he began his business career in the pioneer jewelry house of Fred Stucke. Like all young men going business in those days, his job was to open up, build a fi8re, and make himself generally useful from early morning until closing time in the evening; but it was not long before his application to his job brought him a junior membership in the organization, and thus he became associated with Charles Paule when Mr. Paule bought the Stucke business.
He became an expert clock repairman and his knowledge of diamonds and other precious stones brought him more than local recognition. He remained with the Paule Company until some ten years ago when he established the jewelry business with which his name has since been associated.
Some weeks ago he announced his plans to retire from active business life and the closing out of this business.
In an interview with this newspaper less than a month ago, Mr. Baumle after telling of the changes he had witnessed in handling a jewelry line for half a century, said: “I have enjoyed my half-century in the jewelry business, and I am sorry my heath makes it necessary for me to retire. I feel I have been more than just in business in Burlington. When one has watched Jefferson Street advance from a dirt road, and when one has seen perhaps more than half the business buildings of Burlington erected, one feels that to leave the business district is like pulling a plant up by the roots… I will never lose interest in this, my hometown.”
This interest Mr. Baumle has displayed in many ways; until ill health prevented, he was active in every civic movement. He was benevolent, kindly, and friendly, and made a place for himself in the city’s activities and the hearts of his fellow citizens that is enviable.
Mr. Baumle is survived by his widow and son, Charles E. Baumle, of Burlington, and three daughters; Ruth, wife of the Rev. Walter Grabowski of Rochester, MN; Sophee, who resides at the home here; and Lucille, wife of Austin Fromm of Cedar Falls, Iowa; also brother, Herman Baumle, assistant postmaster in Burlington, and a sister, Mrs. JM Peters of San Francisco, Mrs. Peters arrived in Burlington recently because of her brother’s serious illness.
The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, but further arrangements had not been made early this afternoon. The body is at Prugh’s Chapel.