| John Stenger departed this life at his home on Washington street early Wednesday morning, April 26, 1911, from heart disease, aged 85 years and 8 months. He was born at Gramchatz, Bavaria, Germany, August 29, 1825, and came to America in 1846, engaging himself in carpentering in New York for a short time, then came to Naperville, Ill. In 1848 he sailed from New York to the Isthmus of Panama around Cape Horn to San Francisco, California, working in the gold mine until 1850, when he returned to Naperville, and was married to Anna Mary Stenger, April 4, 1850. This union was blessed with ten children--four sons and six daughters; three of which died in infancy. The youngest son, Carl, preceded him to the better land in 1882; his wife, and daughter Caroline (Mrs. Louis Bapst) in 1893; and another daughter Mary (Mrs. Joseph Shamberger) in 1906. The surviving children are Mrs. Barbara Egermann, Mrs. Henry Germann, Mrs. Theresa Stenger Allen and Mr. Peter Stenger. His brother, Nicholas, aged 88 years, at New London, Conn., twenty-seven grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren also survive him. Mr. Stenger had maintained a prominent position among our foremost citizens and business men for many years, holding various offices of the city and schoolboard. He was always interested in the furtherance of public and private undertakings, and had a charitable and kind heart for the poor and afflicted, leaving today a record of an honorable career. In his business, he had a comprehensive intellectual grasp and ability in constructing, masonry and mechanics. In 1877 he founded the cheese factory on Eagle street. With his brother Nick, Mr. Stenger very successfully conducted the brewery in this city, one of the oldest establishments of its kind in the state, from 1851 to 1864, when the partnership was severed by the death of Nicholas, John continuing alone in the business until 1893, when he retired, and later moved to his farm with his daughter, Mrs. Henry Germann and family. Mr. Stenger took great pleasure in working his large garden, planting shrubbery and fruit trees, until about one year ago. For more than twentyfive years he had suffered acutely from rheumatism; finally his great energy and activity had to submit to a life of retirement. However, he was still able to partially care for himself, read the daily papers, and walk about with aid of his two canes until his last day. In his great sufferings he was resigned, and spent many, many hours in prayer, often asking our Heavenly Father for a peaceful end, which came to him so quietly at daybreak on Wednesday morning. The funeral services were held from SS Peter and Paul church at 9:30 o'clock, on Friday morning, Father Wenker officiating. The grandsons, John and Carl Stenger, August Germann and Alfons Bapst, John and Louis Egermann, acting as pallbearers, did the last honors to their departed grandfather, and carried him to his last resting place on the family lot in the Catholic cemetery. May he rest in peace. (Note: John Stenger had two brothers with similar names: Nicholaus (Nick), his business partner, and Nicklaus (Klaus) who lived in New London, Conn.) Submitted by Beverly Stenger June 1999. Beverly passed away in 2003. She will be greatly missed as an avid Stenger family and Naperville historian. |