OBITUARY: Mary Ellen (Gast) Erbe 1865-1948, Mitchell Co., Iowa Mrs. Henry Erbe Dies at Age 82 Funeral services for Mrs. Henry Erbe, 82, were held Friday afternoon, February 27 at the Champion Funeral Home with the Rev. Glenn S. Hartong officiating. Burial was made in the Osage cemetery. Mrs. Erbe passed away Tuesday, February 24, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Gladys Tubbs, in Osage, after a long illness. Mary Ellen Gast, daughter of John and Katherine Gast, was born November 23, 1865, in Waukon, Allamakee county, Iowa. When a young woman she moved to Floyd County and taught school a couple of years. In 1891, she was united in marriage to Henry Erbe. They made their home all their married life in Mitchell County. To this union nine children were born: Mrs. Iva Flatla, Mrs. Gladys Tubbs, Harvey Erbe, all of Osage; John Erbe of Riceville, Carl Erbe of Mason City, Mrs. Mary Peterson of Albert Lea, Minn. Welcome Erbe of Houston Texas, and Mrs. Cora Williams of Caldwell, Idaho. One son Ira died in 1916. Mrs. Erbe was a member of the First Baptist church of Osage and for the past eight years lived with her daughter, Mrs. Gladys Tubbs. She was in ill health during that time and was seriously ill the past three months. Besides her nine children, she is survived by 21 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, three sisters, and two brothers. Her husband preceded her in death March 22, 1947. Source: Osage News, 1948 Submitted by Kathy Pike August 9, 2003 Copyright 2003, Kathy McAlister Pike