Fred Fiddelke, yesterday, March 15, [1939] completed 50 years in carpenter trade as a building contrctor and helper. He started at the age of 17, in 1889, and first was emplyed by Chas. Nickles at Germantown, and for five years was employed by August Anders. He spent from 1895 to 97 in Webster City and Fort Dodge, and then started as a contractor at Germantown, working also in Minnesota.
During the 42 years as a contractor, Mr. Fiddelke and his assistants erected 600 buildings, which is indeed a record. Mr. Fiddelke has a complete record of all this work and is it included 70 new houes. 48 house remodels, 50 summer kitchens, 14 enclosed porches, 107 new barns, 27 barns remodeled, 65 double corn cribs, 10 single cribs, 24 auto sheds, 80 hog houses, 32 machine sheds, 10 granaries, 40 chicken houses, 12 brooder houses. Besides the foregoing construction work Mr. Fidddelke always built the foundations and used as much as 2500 sacks of cement in a season.
During all of these years Mr. Fiddelke was blessed with good health, and hardly lost a day because of illness. One other outstanding matter in his career is the fact that he very seldom asked for a job, indicating that his work was always most satisfactory. the Times extends its congratuations to Mr. Fiddelke, on this his 50th anniversary as a carpenter.
Fred passed away in 1961. Obituary
His wife Sophie passed away in 1972. Sophie's Obituary
From Paullina Times March 16, 1939