This obituary written by Rev. G. Birkmann for Anna Louise Kilian first appeared in the Giddings Deutsches Volksblatt, Giddings, Texas, on December 9, 1937.
Anna Louise Kilian
The former Anna Louise Kilian was born on January 1, 1863, and was baptized on January 4, 1863, by Rev. Johann Kilian. Her parents were Peter Gersch and Johanne nee Winkler, residents of Serbin. She enjoyed a Christian education in the home of her parents and in the school of St. Paul’s Ev. Luth. Church in Serbin. On April 14, 1876, she was confirmed after receiving instruction by Rev. Johann Kilian, who gave her this verse to remember along life’s way, “Let us love him, for he first loved us,” I John 4:19. On May 31, 1881, she gave her hand in the bond of marriage to Teacher Gerhard Kilian, Teacher Kilian was the oldest son of Rev. Johann Kilian. He served St. Paul’s congregation as teacher from l872 to 1916, when the master Shepherd allowed him to enter the joy of his Lord. She was a faithful wife for him and a caring mother of his children. Since his death, she has lived with her children in Austin, Texas, where she was a faithful member of St. Paul Ev. Luth. Church. She fell asleep in faith in her Lord on Sunday noon (Dec. 5, 1937) at the age of 74 years, 11 months, and 1 day [actually 4]. The grieving survivors are her daughters, Mrs. Heinrich Wukasch, Mrs. Hermann Fehr, Mrs. Martha Wolf, Mrs. Ernst Schulz, Mrs. Amanda Stein, and Miss Louise Kilian, all of Austin; Mrs. J. E. Kasper and Mrs. P. H. Luecke of Giddings; two sons, Martin N. Kilian and Edwin G. Kilian, in Austin; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; two brothers, John and Otto Gersch, from Serbin; two sisters. Mrs. Ernst Domaschk and Mrs. Amalia Lorenz, in Giddings; five sisters-in-law, Mrs. Teresia Peter in Winchester, Mrs. Maria Kilian and Mrs. Emma Gersch in Giddings, Mrs. Anna Kilian in Lincoln, and Mrs. John and Mrs. Otto Gersch in Serbin.
Funeral services conducted by Rev. K. G. Manz were held on Tuesday morning at nine o’clock in the family home and at ten o’clock at St. Paul Ev. Luth. Church. Then the funeral procession made its Way to Serbin, where in St. Paul’s further funeral services took place, conducted by Rev. K. G. Manz, Rev. G. W. Fischer, and Rev. Hermann Schmidt. The burial followed in the Kilian family plot in the cemetery of St. Paul’s of Serbin. Pallbearers were grandsons of the deceased: Rudolph Wukasch, Arthur Fehr, Karl Fehr, Oswald Wolf, Martin Schulz, Lawrence Schulz, Chester McDowell, and Sherman Hart.