JOSEPHINE GEMPLER

 

Jul 29, 1957

Miss Josephine Gambler, 94, one of Mt. Vernon's oldest residents, a member of a prominent, early local family and a life-long resident of Mt. Vernon and Black township died at 5:20 a.m. today at her home at 619 Main street.

 

She had been bedfast for the last three years.

 

The deceased was born in the next city block north of the residence in which she died.  She was one of 11 children of Amand Gempler, a pioneer wagon builder whose shop and home were at the present residence of Mr. and Mrs. Mose LaDuke.  Her mother was Josephine Walz Gempler.  Both parents were natives of Baden, Germany.

 

Miss Josephine Gambler and her two sisters, Miss Rose, who died in 1949, and Miss Catherine, 91, who survives, lived together throughout their long lives.  They came to Mt. Vernon in 1913 from the Gill schoolhouse neighborhood northwest of Mt. Vernon and resided in the 800 block on West Fourth street until 1927 when they purchased and moved into the residence at 619 Main street.

 

Although the late deceased was mentally alert and interested in all that went on about her until the very end.  The surviving sister, Miss Catherine, is a remarkably well preserved individual both mentally and physically, despite her 91 years.

 

The body of the late deceased is at Short-Niehaus Funeral Home and will remain there until it is taken to St. Matthew's Catholic Church for Requiem High Mass at 8:15 a.m. Thursday.  Father Raymond B. Smith, pastor, will be the Mass celebrant.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.  Friends may call at Short-Niehaus Chapel after 6 p.m. Tuesday.

 

Devout members of St. Matthew's Catholic Church, the three sisters were known for their church and other philanthropies.  Misses Josephine and Catherine Gempler gave St. Matthew's Church the organ installed two years ago.

 

In addition to her church membership, Miss Josephine Gempler was a member of the Altar Society, the Legion of Mary and the Poor Souls Society of St. Matthew's.

 

Nearest surviving relatives, in addition to the sister, are four nephews, Florian Pfister, California; Oswald and Aloysius Pfister, of near Mt. Vernon, and Amand Gempler, Mt. Vernon, and a niece, Mrs. Louis Apley, Mt. Vernon.

 

Also surviving are five great nieces, a great nephew and a great great niece.

--------------------------------------------

Originally submitted by Betty Sellers