Selma Antonie Rudert was born on November 23, 1882, thus qualifying her to be today’s birthday girl. She would be celebrating her 142nd birthday today. Antonia was the daughter of Ernst and Ernestine (Schneider) Rudert. Her baptism record is found in the books of Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. We can view that record below.

Antonia is found in the 1900 census at the age of 18. Her father was a farmer in the Apple Creek Township.

Now, we will turn our attention to the man who would become Antonia’s first husband. His name was Matthias Richard Reisenbichler, who was born on January 20, 1876. Richard was the son of George and Mary (Schupfer) Reisenbichler. He is found in the 1880 census at the age of 4. His father was a farmer in the Shawnee Township.

I failed to find Richard in the 1900 census. I do know that he was no longer living with his parents. Then, on May 14, 1903, Richard Reisenbichler married Antonia Rudert at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. We can view this pair’s church marriage record here.

We can also look at two other civil records of their wedding. Here is the standard Missouri marriage license for them.

We can also view this marriage certificate.

Sadly, this marriage lasted just 7 months. In December, just a matter of days before Christmas, Richard died at the age of 27. A church death record states that he died of typhoid. Richard is buried in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in New Wells, but Findagrave.com has no gravestone photo for him.

Antonia was about 6 months pregnant when her husband died. In March of 1904, this widow gave birth to a daughter named Helen. Another census entry that I failed to find was the 1910 entry for Antonia and Helen.

Now, we will take a look at the man who would become Antonia’s second husband. His name was Frederick George Woehlke, who was born on May 19, 1887. Fred was the son of Frank and Katherine (Roehr) Woehlke. He was born in Perry County, but not in Missouri. He was born in Pinckneyville which is located in Perry County, Illinois. Fred is found in the 1900 census at the age of 13. His father was a farmer in Pinckneyville.

In the 1910 census, Fred was still living in Pinckneyville, and, at the age of 22, was helping his father on his farm.

On February 11, 1914, Frederick Woehlke married Antonia Reisenbichler in Jackson County, Illinois. We can view this Illinois record of their marriage.

Fred had his World War I draft registration completed in 1917. This document says Fred was living in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and working as a carpenter.

There were 3 children born to Fred and Antonia. In the 1920 census, we find one Reisenbichler child and 2 Woehlke children. Fred was a salesman at a general merchandise store in Cape Girardeau.

Next, we find the Woehlke’s in the 1930 census. This entry includes the 3 Woehlke children. There were two roomers living in their household. This time it says Fred was a salesman, but also working at odd jobs.

The last census in which we find Fred is the one taken in 1940. Three children and a lodger were found in Fred and Antonia’s household. Fred was a bakery truck driver.

Fred Woehlke died in 1949 at the age of 62. His Missouri death certificate is pictured below.

An obituary was published in a local newspaper for Fred.

I was unable to locate Antonia in the 1950 census. Perhaps she went to live with her daughter in St. Petersburg, Florida because she would die in 1976 at the age of 93. Her obituary shown here says she died while living at the Lutheran Haven in Oviedo, Florida. That place is special to me because that is where my parents lived at the end of their lives.

Antonia Woehlke’s body was brought back to Missouri. She and her husband, Frederick Woehlke are buried in the Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

I have previously written stories about women who lost their husband when they were pregnant. They are especially tragic tales. This one is made a bit more tragic because Antonia lost her first husband during the season when folks were preparing for Christmas.