In Memory of

Emily (Busick) Zielke

1912-2006

Contributed by: William Brackett
brackettwilliam@yahoo.com

Emily Busick was born on 01 Feb 1912 the daughter of George and Katherine (Felsing) Busick and she married Albert R. Zielke on 02 Mar 1935. Albert R. Zielke died on 25 Apr 1982 and Emily died on 23 April 2006. Their children were:

George Zielke who married Loretta Hauch

Albert Zielke who died in infancy

Marilyn Zielke who married Martin R. Strefling

Elaine Zielke who married Karl Spitzer

Albert Zielke was the son of Reinhold and Augusta (Jantz) Zielke. Augusta was born on 31 Oct 1882 in Russia and was the daughter of Gotlieb and Wilhelmina (Sampson) Jantz. This name is also seen as Yantz. Augusta died on 17 Jun 1958 and Reinhold died in 1974. Reinhold and Augusta Zielke are buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Lake Township, Berrien County, Michigan. Albert and Emily Zielke are also buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

The 1900 census of Maple Township in Dodge County, Nebraska includes:

John Felsing, farm laborer, born in Russia in April 1876 and he was 24 years of age, immigrated in 1899

Lizzie Felsing, his wife, born in Russia in August 1879 and she was 20 years of age

Maggie Felsing, his mother, born in Russia in June 1846 and she was 53 years of age and widowed.

Lizzie Felsing, his sister, born in Russia in May 1884 and she was 16 years of age

Next door to them was:

George Busick, farm laborer, born in Russia in August 1877 and he was 22 years of age, immigrated in 1899

Katie Busick his wife, born in Russia in November 1879

George Busick had married Katherine Elizabeth Felsing. Katherine was the daughter of Christofer and Rosena (Bishop) Felsing. Katherine was born in Russia on 22 Nov 1879 and Died on 31 Dec 1958. George was the son of George and Katherine (Johannes) Busick. George was born in Russia on 24 August 1877 and died on 25 Mar 1946. George and Katherine are buried in the Hinman Cemetery in Baroda Township, Berrien County, Michigan.

George Busick (Sr.) was born in Russia on 13 Apr 1855 and died on 26 Sep 1946. He married Katherine Johannes in Russia. He is also buried in the Hinman Cemetery.

This census indicates that all their parents were also born in Russia. These families were Germans who were living in Russia.

The 1910 census includes John Felsing in Liberty Township of Coffey County, Kansas. This census also indicates they were born in Russia but were German. His mother is listed here as Margaret Felsing. George Busick was not found in the 1910 census.

The 1920 census includes John Felsing in Whitney Township of Arenac County, Michigan and his mother was still with him. She was 72 years of age and is listed here as Margurette Felsing. Several members of this family are buried in the Sims Whitney Cemetery in Sims Township of Arenac County, Michigan but I did not find a listing for Margaret, John’s mother.

The 1920 census of Lake Township of Berrien County, Michigan includes:

George Busick, a grain farmer, who was 42 years of age and born in Russia and was German, immigrated in 1899

Katherine Busick who was 40 years of age and was born in Russia and was German, immigrated in 1899

Kate Busick who was 19 years of age and was born in Nebraska.

George Busick who was 16 year of age and was born in Michigan

Lizzie Busick who was 12 years of age and was born in Russia

Marlie Busick who was 9 years of age and was born in Russia

Emily Busick who was 7 years of age and was born in Russia

George Busick, his father, who was 65 years of age and was born in Russia and was German, immigrated in 1913

Apparently between 1901 and 1904 this family left Nebraska, came to Michigan where George was born, returned to Russia about 1907 and then came back to Michigan, bringing with them George Busick (Sr.), in 1913. This explains why George Busick (Jr.) was not found in the 1910 census.

The Herald Palladium carried the obituary of Albert Zielke on 26 Apr 1982 and it reads: “Albert Zielke Buchanan-Albert R. Zielke, 71, of Route 2, Browntown Road, Buchanan, died Sunday at Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Glendora, of which he was a member. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Bridgman. Friends may call at Boyd Funeral Home, Bridgman, from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. Memorials may be made to the church. Mr. Zielke was born Dec. 3, 1910, in Bridgman. Survivors include: his wife, the former Emily Busick; one son, George of Bridgman; two daughters-Mrs. Martin (Marilyn) Strefling of Stevensville, and Mrs. Karl (Elaine) Spitzer of Buchanan; six grandchildren; five brothers-John and Paul, both of Baroda, Amiel of Benton Harbor, August of Stevensville, and Richard of Bridgman; and four sisters-Mrs. John (Olga) Mensinger of Buchanan, Mrs. William (Huldina) Backus of Stuart, Fla., Mrs. Hattie Schmaltz of Baroda, and Mrs. Ann Gaul of Bridgman. One son preceded him in death” Albert died on 25 Apr 1982.

The Herald Palladium carried the obituary of Emily Zielke on 24 Apr 2006 and it reads: “Emily Zielke Baroda-Emily Zielke, 94, of Baroda passed away on Sunday, April 23, 2006, at Caretel Inns of Royalton in St. Joseph. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Glendora, 1733 Glendora Road, Buchanan, with Rev. Thomas Brazinsky officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Bridgman. Friends may meet with the family from 6 tp 8 p.m. today at Trinity Lutheran Church, Glendora. Memorial contributions may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, Glendora. Arrangements have been entrusted to Boyd-Pike Funeral Home, Bridgman. Mrs. Zielke was born Feb. 1, 1912, in Germany, the daughter of the late George and Katherine (Felsing) Busick. She married to Albert R. Zielke, and he preceded her in death on April 25, 1982. Emily, along with he husband, worked the family fruit and dairy farm. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Glendora and its Ladies Aid. Emily is survived by three children, George (Loretta) Zielke of Buchanan, Marilyn (Martin R.) Strefling of St. Joseph, and Elaine (Karl) Spitzer of Buchanan; five grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Zielke was also preceded in death by an infant son, Albert G.; a grandson, David, in 2001; one brother and three sisters.”

Reinhold Zielke was the son of John Bernard and Caroline (Gitersonke) Zielke. 

The Niles Daily Star carried an obituary for John Bernard Zielke on 25 Jun 1931 and it reads:  “Bridgman-Funeral services will be conducted here Saturday for John Bernard Zielke, 83, who died Tuesday at the home of his son, Rhine.  The late Mr. Zielke had been a resident of the community about Bridgman and a fruit grower for 29 years.  He was born November 23, 1847, in Antonwald, Germany, and at the age of 13 years emigrated with his family to Russia.  In 1860 he was married to Miss Caroline Gitersonke whom he survived four years. Thirteen children were born, ten of whom died at early ages.  Mr. Zielke’s death followed one year upon that of his son, Henry.  Three sons survive.  They are; Rhine of Bridgman, and Rudolph and Gustav of Baroda.  There survive also 27 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.  Funeral services will be conducted Saturday afternoon at one o’clock from the home of a son, Rhine, and two o’clock from Bridgman Lutheran church.  The Rev. O. H. Knoll, Lutheran pastor, will officiate.  Burial will be in Green Wood cemetery, Bridgman.  Pall bearers will be John, Albert, August, Elmer, Rudolph Jr., and Walter Zielke, all grandsons of the deceased.  The body has been removed to the Fred Hall undertaking home.”

The Herald Press carried an obituary for Caroline Zielke on 05 Apr 1927 and it reads:  “Death Claims Mrs. C. Zielke Bridgman, April 5.-(Special)-Mrs. Caroline Hannah Zielke, resident of Lake township for the past 25 years, died at the home of one of her sons, Rineholt Zelke, last night.  Mrs. Zielke had been ill for two years and a half with rheumatism and an attack of pneumonia was the immediate cause of her death.  Besides her sons, she leaves 25 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  Grandsons will act as pallbearers when the funeral is held at the Bridgman Congregational church on Wednesday at 2 p.m.  The Rev. George Vielguth, pastor of the Church of God, in St. Joseph will officiate at the rites.” 

John Bernard Zielke's  death certificate gives his father as Carl Zielke of Germany and his mother as Florintine Winkler also of Germany. His date of death was 23 Jun 1931. John Rheinhold Bernard Zielke married Karoline Hannah Gitersonke Sept 12, 1872 Zhitomir Parish, Volhynia, Russia.  This area is now part ot the Ukraine.