William Edward
and
Maude Mary (Montgomery) Fiegenbaum

50th Wedding Anniversary

 

Mr. And Mrs. W. E. Fiegenbaum

Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Fiegenbaum of Geneva celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Sunday afternoon, October 7, 1951, by holding open house from 2 to 5 at their home. Many relatives and friends from Geneva and from a distance came to honor Mr. and Mrs. Fiegenbaum, who have lived in this community all of their married life. Mr. Fiegenbaum had been in business here two years before his marriage.

Maude Montgomery and Ed Fiegenbaum were married October 8, 1901, in the Presbyterian Church at Oregon, Mo. A reception was held after the ceremony. Following a short wedding trip, the couple went to housekeeping in Geneva in a cottage on the lot where they now live. The present home was built in 1913.

Mr. and Mrs. Fiegenbaum have two children,1  Frances, now Mrs. L. F. Klein of Lincoln, and Capt. W. E. Fiegenbaum, now in the regular army and stationed in Munich, Germany. They have four grandchildren, Mrs. Gretchen Turner of Enid, Okla., Nancy Klein of Lincoln, Susan and W. E. Fiegenbaum III of Munich, Germany. They also have a great-granddaughter, Karen Turner of Enid, Okla.

In addition to those who called during the afternoon of the golden wedding observance, many sent cards, letters, telegrams, flowers and gifts in honor of the occasion. Of particular interest was a beautiful Dresden figurine which their son, Capt. Fiegenbaum, and family sent from Germany. Guests also were interested in viewing Mrs. Fiegenbaum's wedding dress, newspaper clippings, pictures and other mementos of 50 years of married life. Included in the collection was a silver loving cup that was presented to the parents of Mr. Fiegenbaum on their golden wedding anniversary in 1902. It is engraved with the date and the names of their nine children, of whom Edward is the youngest.2  The cup will belong to William E. Fiegenbaum II and then will pass on to the fourth generation, William Edward III being the only male descendant.

Assisting in the dining room at the observance were Mrs. Charles Warner, Mrs. F. M. Holtz, Mrs. John Brice, Mrs. Maude Stringfield, Mrs. Tyler Edgecombe, Mrs. Porter Sloan and Mrs. Robert Waring. Miss Delia Fisher and Mrs. Guy Case assisted Mrs. L. F. Klein in receiving guests. Miss Nancy Klein had charge of the guest book.

Refreshments were French pastries, mints and coffee. The table service was gold and white china. A beautiful lavender orchid corsage was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Klein.

Among the out-of-town guests present to honor Mr. and Mrs. Fiegenbaum were the following:

Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Klein and Nancy of Lincoln; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Fiegenbaum of Springfield, Neb.; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ewing of Chicago; Misses Louise and Wilma Miller of Wathena, Kas.; Mrs. Gould Larzelere of Troy, Kas.; Mrs. Rolland Beery of Kansas City, Mo.; Bruce Claussen of North Platte; Mr. and Mrs. M. P. Martin of Lincoln; Mrs. F. K. Klein and Miss Dorothy Klein of Kearney.

Source: The Nebraska Signal, of Geneva, Nebraska; 18 October 1951. Transcription and digital image of article courtesy of Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts and Jane Michel.

Notes (Click on a note number to return to that footnote, above.)

 1.  Three children were born to the couple. Their first child, Frederick W. Fiegenbaum (or Frederick Robert Fiegenbaum), born on 15 December 1902, died unexpectedly on 8 May 1903 following a very short illness. He was buried in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska.

 2.  William Edward Fiegenbaum was the youngest of 10 children born to Rev. Friedrich Wilhelm and Louisa (Otto) Fiegenbaum. Their third child, Louis, died at the age of 6 days, on 12 September 1856. He was buried in the cemetery of the Methodist Church at Sherrill, Dubuque County, Iowa (section A, row 5, stone 6).
To view the cemetery records, visit Sherrill Methodist Cemetery. <http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadubuqu/cemeteries/sherrillmethcem.html>. Transcription of cemetery records by Vicki Schlarman and Tom Schlarman, 7 October 2001.

 

Brief Genealogy

William Edward Fiegenbaum's family

Maude Mary Montgomery's family

Fiegenbaum - Montgomery family

 

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