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Note: Gertrude Vaske was born at Kalfslage, Oldenburg, Germany on February 9, 1827, daughter of Joseph Vaske and Elizabeth Rohenkohl. Gertrude was educated at the parish school, and at the age of twenty-three years came to America with her mother, Elizabeth, and brother, Bernard, and settled on a farm south of New Vienna, Iowa in 1850, perhaps staying with Gertrude's brother Henry. Henry had come to America earlier in 1849. Gertrude was one of the the pioneer ladies of the New Vienna-Petersburg, Iowa vicinity. Coming in the early days when nearly all was vast wilderness, and settlers were just beginning to come, she had the pleasure of witnessing the vast forest give way to the march of civilization. She was a pioneer lady in the true sense of the word, kindhearted, neighborly and ever devoted to her duties. She was a truly Christian lady, and was highly respected and esteemed by a large circle of friends. July 24, 1855, at Dubuque County, Iowa, she was united in marriage with Frank H. Boeckenstedt. Gertrude died at the family home in New Vienna, Iowa on Thursday morning, October 24, 1907, at two o'clock. She was over eighty years of age, and her demise was undoubtedly hastened from injuries received some weeks previously. The pallbearers were A. J. Hoefer, Wm Retling, Fred Koch, Henry Kohl, John Vorwarld and John Ahlers.
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