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Emil Luther

1877 - 1936

 

Watertown Daily Times, Feb, 1936 / Date of death: 02 04 1936

 

The funeral for Emil Luther, 58, veteran member of the volunteer fire department and for many years janitor of the city hall who died yesterday following an operation will be held Saturday afternoon from the Nowack funeral home with services in St. John’s Lutheran Church . . . Interment will be in the Lutheran cemetery.

 

Mr. Luther was a native of Watertown and was born June 27, 1877, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Luther.  He is survived by his wife and a brother, William Luther, Watertown.  He had been a member of the fire department since 1896.

 

Mayor W. F. Reichardt announced that all city officials are requested to meet at the city hall Friday evening at 7:30 o’clock to go in a delegation to pay their respects to Mr. Luther.  Members of the fire department also will join in a tribute at the same time, Robert Kerstell, fire chief, announced.

 

Mayor Reichardt, at the opening of last night’s council meeting, took occasion to pay a personal tribute to Mr. Luther.

 

“I speak without fear for contradiction when I say that no city worker was more faithful and more conscientious and more ready to be of service than was Mr. Luther.  We are all going to miss him and we all feel sorry over his loss to the city which he served so well.”

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Mr. Luther was a city employee for more than 30 years.  He served as city hall janitor for something like 25 years, being appointed year after year by each successive mayor.  Some years ago when the position was abolished and the rules of the volunteer fire department were revised distributing the work among the various fire truck drivers, Mr. Luther continued as a driver and worked continuously until last week when he prepared to go to the hospital.  He had long been a member of the fire department.

 

He is survived by his wife.  There are no children, but a niece has for years made her home with the couple. 

 

Mr. Luther’s record of service to the city was unique.  He was a conscientious worker and each succeeding administration, in the days when the janitor was appointed by the mayor, named him to the position.  No mayor would even think of replacing him and when Dr. A. H. Hartwig first came to the office of mayor and advocated several changes he declared the Mr. Luther’s service was such that he wouldn’t replace him and said he felt he was entitled to reappointment year after year.  Many other mayors in naming him paid tribute to his long and faithful record as a city worker.

 

The flag on the city hall was lowered to half staff when news of his death was received there.