Cornelia Opal Wahl

Mrs. Jacob Wahl Passes Away on Christmas Night

The following articles, published in the Lusk Free Lance, are courtesy of the Wyoming Newspaper Project.

Christmas day, which had been as greatly enjoyed at the Jacob Wahl home as much as in any other, had a sorrowful ending, when at 9:30 p.m. the wife and mother, Mrs. Cordelia Wahl, passed away after suffering two successive strokes within a short period of time. The strokes were resultant from a blood clot which originated in one of her limbs. Mrs. Wahl was 48 years, 4 months and 2 days of age at the time of her passing.

She had recently undergone a major operation at the local hospital, and while immediately following, her condition was not satisfactory, she was later removed to her home, a short distance northwest of this city. She there continued to gain and acquire strength, and on Christmas day, had probably felt the best she had in many months.

She was more than encouraged by the report from her physician that she was battling down her ailment, and throughout the day appeared in finest of spirit. The family was thankful for her improvement and it was a happy occasion in the Whal (Wahl) house.

But shortly before her death, Mrs. Wahl suffered a stroke, then another in rapid succession, and before medical aid could be summoned, life had become extinct.

Deceased is survived by her husband, Jacob Wahl, two children, a son, Harold, and a daughter, Vera May. A sister, Mrs. P. E. Haworth, of Careyhurst, Wyo., also is left to mourn her passing.

The remains were placed in charge of George Earl Peet of the Peet mortuary, and funeral services are being held this (Thursday) afternoon from the Baptist church, Rev. B. F. Farrar, pastor, officiating. Burial will be made in the Lusk cemetery.

The community at large unites in extending deepest sympathy to the bereaved, for whom Christmas day brought such unforgettable sadness. Complete obituary will be found in another column of this issue.

OBITUARY - Mrs. Jacob Wahl
Cordelia Opal Hutson was born in Marshal county, Iowa, August 23, 1885, the younger of two daughters of Thomas C. and Rebecca Josephine Hutson. The mother died while Cordelia Opal was but a mere child; but there in Marshal county, Iowa, she grew to womanhood's estate. She had been reared in the Quaker faith. Altho confessing conversion, she never united with any church. In 1906, with her sister and family, she moved from Iowa to Ellendale, North Dakota, where she engaged in school-teaching.

On May 2nd, 1913, she was united in marriage to Jacob Wahl. To this union two children were born, a son, Harold, and a daughter, Vera May.

In April 1918, the family came to Niobrara county and settled on a homestead 37 miles north of Lusk, in what is commonly known as the Buck Creek hills. There the family resided until 1930, when they moved to Lusk where they have since resided.

Mrs. Wahl had been a sufferer for a number of years and about six weeks ago submitted to a major operation. At first she seemed to get on well, then complications developed and she was removed to her home. Again she seemed well on the way to recovery, and spent one delightful day Christmas day, rejoicing in the prospects of an early recovery of her long-cherished good health. But at nine-thirty she bade farewell to the scenes of earth and opened her eyes on the Ivory Palaces and the streets of Gold.

As long as she was able she taught a class in the Baptist Sunday School and took a lively interest in all the work of the church. She made for herself a large place in the affections of all who knew her.

Her sojourn on earth was but 48 years, 4 months and 2 days. She leaves to mourn her departure and cherish her memory her devoted husband, Jacob Wahl, her son, Harold, a senior in the high school, her daughter, Vera May, 14 years of age; also a sister, Mrs. P. E. Haworth, of Careyhurst, Wyoming, other relatives and a host of firneds, for Mrs. Wahl was a past-master in the art of friend-making.

She knew her Savior and Lord and her last conscious act was to thank HIm for prayers answered. While we mourn we can but be light-hearted for we know that she has gone to be with Him.

"Our knowledge of that life is small,
Our eye of faith is dim;
But 'tis enough that Christ knows all,
And we shall be with Him."

Funeral services were held from the Baptist church this (Thursday) afternoon at two o'clock, Rev. B. F. Farrar, officiating. Peet mortuary in charge.

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