PIERCE COUNTY LEADER; Pierce, Nebraska; Thursday, April 29, 1950

79 YEAR RESIDENT LAID AT REST

Death, which came quietly while he was resting at his home, took the life of Richard Breyer, longtime resident of the Pierce community on Thursday afternoon. Although he had been in failing health for many years, his death came unexpectedly.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the family home and at 2:00 at Zion Lutheran church with the Rev. C.M. Steging in charge. Many beautiful floral tributes were banked about the casket and relatives and friends gave memorial wreaths to various charitable organizations in his memory.

The men's choir under the direction of R.T. Meyer sang. "Oh, Where is the Haven of Rest for the Soul", and "Abide With Me". Rev. Steging based his comforting words of consolation to the family on the words of Psalms 23, verse 4, "Yeah, tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For thou are with me."

Burial took place in the Lutheran cemetery east of pierce with the following grandsons serving as pallbearers, Alvin Krohn, Osmond, William Fredrickson, Wayne; Everett Breyer, Naper; Joe Ihm, Omaha; Virgil Aubert and Frederick Wachholtz of Pierce.

Mr. Breyer was a resident of the Pierce community for more than 79 years and was one of a small group instrumental in organizing Zion Lutheran congregation. At the time of its organization he was elected to the board of trustees, a position he held for 32 years. He was always active in the affairs of the church and only in recent years when his health failed, was he forced to give up these activities.

Richard Breyer was born February 12, 1864 in Pommerania, Germany, and was baptized in the Lutheran faith in early infancy. When a child of two years he emigrated to America with his mother and grandparents, settling at Watertown, Wisc.

In 1871 the family came to Pierce where the previous year his father had taken a homestead. Here he attended school in Dist. 3, his teacher being the late Rev. Mr. Stahl, who was the first pastor of St. John's church east of Pierce. The school building in Dist. 3 served as public and parochial school as well as church for a number of years. His formal education ended at the age of 14, when he was confirmed at St. John's on April 14, 1878. He continued to live with his parents until he was 21 years of age, when he took out his own homestead rites.

He lived on his homestead as a bachelor for four years and on March 1, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Alvina Buckendahl of Pierce. This union was blessed with nine children, one son, Ernest, dying at the age of seven years. In 1902, Mr. and Mrs. Breyer moved from their farm to a small acreage near Pierce and he combined his farming interests with carpentering, a trade he followed for a number of years.

He passed away last Thursday evening at the age of 86 years, 2 months and 8 days, ending marriage ties which have endured for more than 61 years. He leaves to mourn his passing his aged wife; four sons, William and Paul of Pierce; August of South Sioux City; and Reinhold of Naper; four daughters, Mrs. Lena Herbolsheimer and Mrs. James R. Silhacek of Pierce; Mrs. Paul Mitchell of South Sioux City, and Mrs. Charles Pettitt of Omaha. Also 22 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, one brother, Gottlieb Breyer of Tampa, Florida; two sisters, Mrs. William Schellen of Winnetoon, and Mrs. Emma Bauman of Norfolk.

Many relatives and friends were present to attend the last rites, including his brother, Gottlieb of Tampa, and his sisters, Mrs. Bauman of Noroflk and Mrs. Wm. Schellen of Winnetoon. Others present from Winside, Omaha, Norfolk, South Sioux City, Naper and other hearby towns.