Mary Ethel Sierk

Mary Ethel Sierk

Mary Ethel Sierk Guenther, 1890-1962

• Father: Henry Sierk Jr. b. 27 September 1860, d. 19 May 1939
• Mother: Cora Almeda Lindsey b. 9 July 1864, d. 24 May 1916

• Mary Ethel Sierk was born in May 1890 in New York.
• Sierk children Glen, Ray and Mary were photographed about 1891.
• Henry Sierk Jr. and Cora Almeda Lindsey appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Attica, Wyoming County, New York. Other members of the household included Mary Ethel Sierk, Ray Grant Sierk, Glen Henry Sierk, Leo Carmi Sierk and Lillian F. Sierk. Also in the household was nephew Leon Vanvalkenburg, age 16, working on the farm.
• A photographic portrait was made of Henry and Cora Sierk and their children, about 1905.
  

  Henry and Cora Sierk and their children, about 1905.
• Henry Sierk Jr. and Cora Almeda Lindsey appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Attica, New York. Other members of the household included Mary Ethel Sierk, Ray Grant Sierk, Glen Henry Sierk, Leo Carmi Sierk, Lillian F. Sierk and Carmi Van Rensselaer Lindsey.
• She married Gaylord Stephen Guenther, son of William H. Guenther and Cora Irene Davis, on 19 October 1916 in Attica, New York, with Emmett M. Kelly officiating. The marriage was witnessed by Lillian F. Sierk.
  

  Gaylord Guenther and Mary Sierk on their wedding day, 1916
• The following appeared on 20 October 1916 in The Daily News: (Attica) Miss Mary Ethel Sierk, daughter of Henry Sierk, was married yesterday afternoon at the residence of her father on the Creek road to Gaylord Stephen Guenther of Niagara Falls, the Rev. Emmet M. Kelly officiating. Miss Marian Rogers of Darien played the wedding march. Mr. and Mrs. Guenther left for New York on a wedding trip and will reside at Niagara Falls.
• The following appeared on 19 October 1916 in the Silver Springs Signal: County and Vicinity. Mary Ethel Sierk of Attica and Gaylord S. Guenther of Niagara Falls were married today.
• The following appeared on 23 October 1916 in The Daily News: (Attica) The wedding of Miss Mary E. Sierk, daughter of Henry Sierk of the Creek road, to Gaylord Stephen Guenther of Niagara Falls was solemnized at the home of the bride's grandfather [sic] on Friday [sic] afternoon.
• The following appeared on 26 October 1916 in the Silver Springs Signal: (County and Vicinity) Miss Mary Ethel Sierk of Attica and Gaylord Stephen Guenther of Niagara Falls were married last Thursday.
• The following appeared on 2 June 1919 in The Daily News: (Attica) Henry Sierk of the Creek road has gone to Niagara Falls, where he will spend a few days with his daughter, Mrs. Gaylord Guenther. Mr. and Mrs. William Guenther of Attica will also spend a few days at the same place.
• Gaylord Stephen Guenther and Mary Ethel Sierk appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 1121 Walnut Avenue. Other members of the household included Jack Gaylord Guenther.
• The following appeared on 28 June 1921 in The Daily News: (Attica) Mrs. William Guenther of Washington street was in critical condition yesterday. Her son, Gaylord Guenther, with his wife and little son, have come by automobile from Niagara Falls.
• Gaylord Stephen Guenther and Mary Ethel Sierk appeared in the New York state census of 1 June 1925 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 1887 Cleveland Avenue. Other members of the household included Marilyn Ethel Guenther and Lillian F. Sierk.
• Gaylord Stephen Guenther and Mary Ethel Sierk appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Niagara Falls, New York, at 1887 Cleveland Avenue. Other members of the household included Jack Gaylord Guenther, Marilyn Ethel Guenther and Jane Audrey Guenther.
• The following appeared on 20 July 1939 in the Wyoming County Times: Ray Sierk of Darien and Glenn H. Sierk of Attica have been granted letters testamentary on the estate of their father, Henry Sierk of Attica who died May 19, 1939 and left real estate valued at $3,000 and personal property valued at $800. The heirs are the five children, Glenn of Attica, Ray of Darien, Leo Sierk, Lillian F. Ames of Attica and Mary E. Guenther of Niagara Falls. By the terms of the will the piano is left to the daughter, Lillian Ames and the rest of the property is to be divided equally between the five children.
• The following appeared on 29 February 1940 in the Wyoming County Times: Notice of Farm Sale. We, the undersigned, executors of the Last Will and Testament of Henry Sierk, late of Attica, N. Y., deceased, offer for sale at public auction to the highest bidder, the farm owned by decedent in his lifetime, and formerly owned by Carmi V. Lindsey, containing 207 acres of land, situated about three miles southerly of the Village of Attica upon the Creek road, at the office of W. E. Hopkins, Attica, N. Y., on the 9th day of March, 1940, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. this farm is desirably located and is an especially good dairy, grain and bean farm, and has a good supply of running water.
       The right is reserved to reject any and all bids.
       Dated, February 21, 1940.
       Ray G. Sierk, Glen H Sierk, Executors.
• Gaylord Stephen Guenther and Mary Ethel Sierk appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Niagara Falls, New York, at 1887 Cleveland Avenue. Other members of the household included Jack Gaylord Guenther, Marilyn Ethel Guenther and Jane Audrey Guenther.
• The following appeared on 17 April 1941 in The Wyoming County Times: (Varysburg) Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord Guenther of Niagara Falls and Dr. and Mrs. Leo Sierk of Attica were Sunday callers on Mr. and Mrs. William Guenther. 
• Gaylord Stephen Guenther registered for the draft on 26 April 1942 in Niagara County, New York, while living with his wife Mary at 1887 Cleveland Avenue in Niagara Galls, and self-employed there as a building contractor at 611 Eighth Street.
• The following appeared on 16 February 1943 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Miss Marilyn Guenther, a student at William Smith College, N. Y., spent the weekend with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Guenther, of Cleveland avenue. . . . Ensign Jack Guenther, personnel officer with the See Bees at Camp Peary, Virginia, spent the weekend at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Guenther, of Cleveland avenue. Enroute to Camp Peary, he will stop at Washington, D. C., where he will receive special training.
• The following appeared on 4 May 1950 in The Wyoming County Times: (Varysburg) Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord Guenther of Niagara Falls spent Fathers Day with Mr. and Mrs. William Guenther. 
• The following appeared on 22 June 1950 in The Wyoming County Times: (Varysburg) Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord Guenther of Niagara Falls spent Saturday P.M. with Mr. and Mrs. William Guenther in honor of the birthday of Mr. Guenther. . . .  Mrs. Cora Morgan of Biss spent Saturday with Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Guenther. 
• Mary Ethel Sierk became a widow at the 1952 death of her husband Gaylord Stephen Guenther.
• The following appeared on 1 August 1952 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: Gaylord S. Guenther, 60, who had been in the contracting business here for many years, died of a heart attack early today at his home, 1887 Cleveland avenue.
       A Fire department inhalator squad administered first aid to Mr. Guenther for 15 minutes before he was pronounced dead at 4 a.m. by his doctor.
       Mr. Guenther was a native of Holland, N. Y. He came to this city 36 years ago and was associated with the Charles W. Moyer company, contractors, for 20 years. He later served as superintendent for the Walter S. Johnson Building company for several years.
       For the last ten years, until his retirement, Mr. Guenther operated the Gaylord S. Guenther contracting business.
       He was a member of the First Presbyterian church, the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Associated General Contractors.
       Funeral services for Mr. Guenther will be conducted at the Gridley Funeral home at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Burial will be in Forest Hill cemetery, Attica.
       Mr. Guenther is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary E. Guenther; a son, Jack G. Guenther; two daughters, Mrs. Robert E. Wilson and Miss Jane A. Guenther, all of this city, and his father, William H. Guenther, Warsaw, N. Y. He is also survived by four grandchildren.
• The following appeared on 9 May 1953 in the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal: Miss Jane A. Guenther, daughter of Mrs. Gaylord S. Guenther of Cleveland Avenue, Niagara Falls, and the late Mr. Guenther, became the bride of Donald J. Stone, son of Mrs. Albert P. Stone of Ontario Street, and the late Mr. Stone, on Saturday, May 2, at the First Presbyterian Church, Niagara Falls. The Rev. Charles C. Berryhill officiated at the ceremony.
       The bride, escorted by her brother, Jack G. Guenther, chose a street-length dress of dior blue lace with bracelet-length sleeves and full skirt. The boat neckline was edged with pleated nylon net and a wide flounce of nylon nte trimmed the hem of the skirt. She wore a matching hat and carried a Colonial bouquet of pink sweetheart roses.
       She was attended by her sister, Mrs. Robert E. Wilson, who was attired in a dress of champagne lace with matching accessories, and carried a Colonial bouquet of daffodils and baby iris.
       Charles A. Switzer was best man and William F. Lynch was the usher.
       The reception was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Guenther, Oak Street, Niagara Falls, for the immediate families and the wedding party.
       Mrs. Guenther wore a silk shantung suit of cadet blue with pale pink accessories and an orchid corsage. The mother of the bridegroom selected a Wedgewood blue silk print dress with matching accessories and an orchid corsage.
       Mr. and Mrs. Stone will reside at 7 Sixty-seventh street after a brief wedding trip. For trraveling the bride chose a navy blue gabardine suit with navy blue and white accessories, and wore a corsage of cymbidium.
       Miss Guenther is a graduate of Niagara Falls High School and William Smith College, Geneva. She is a case worker with the Niagara County Welfare department.
       Mr. Stone, a graduate of Lockport High School, is an alumnus of Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., and attended Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind. He now is with the engineering department at Hooker Electrochemical Company.
• Mary Ethel Sierk died on 15 June 1962 at age 72 in Niagara Falls, New York, at 1887 Cleveland Avenue at her home.
• She was interred at Forest Hill Cemetery, Attica, Wyoming County, New York.
• The following appeared on 16 June 1962 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Mrs. Mary E. Guenther, of 1887 Cleveland Ave., a resident for the last 46 years, died unexpectedly in her home Friday (June 15, 1962). She was 72.
       Mrs. Guenther was a native of Attica. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and belonged to the Women's Association at the church. She was also a member of the Mother's Corner Club.
       Mrs. Guenther was the widow of Gaylor S. Guenther, a local contractor, who died in 1952.
       Surviving are a son, Jack G. Guenther, this city; two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Marilyn) Wilson, of Fairport, and Mrs. Donald J. (Jean) Stone, of North Tonawanda; a sister, Mrs. Harold F. Ames, and two brothers, Glen and Ray Sierk, all of Attica, and another brother, Dr. Leo Sierk, of St. Petersburg, Fla; and seven grandchildren. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Gridley Funeral Home. Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery, in Attica.
• A single grave marker identifies the graves of Gaylord Stephen Guenther and Mary Ethel Sierk.
  

  Gaylord Stephen and Mary Ethel Sierk Guenther, Forest Hill Cemetery, Attica, Wyoming County, New York
• The following appeared in the Wyoming County Times: (Attica) Glen H. Sierk, 80, an Attica native and lifetime resident died at 10:20 p.m. Saturday (July 19, 1969) in the Castile Nursing Home where he had been a patient for nine months.
       Mr. Sierk, who operated a farm on the Creek Rd. for a number of years, was born April 6, 1889, a son of Cora and Lindsey Sierk [sic]. He was a member of Attica Lodge 462, F & AM.
       Mr. Sierk's wife was the late Thelma Seligman Sierk. Surviving are a brother, Dr. Leo C. Sierk of St. Petersburg, Fla; a sister, Mrs. Lillian Ames of Attica; nieces and nephews. He was a brother of the late Ray Sierk and Mrs. Mary Guenther. The Rev. Donald Housser of Attica-Darien United Methodist Church officiated at services at 1:30 p.m. July 22 at the Marley Funeral Home. Burial was in Forest Hill Cemetery.
• The following appeared in a Niagara Falls newspaper: Jack Gaylord Guenther, Sr., 90 of Niagara Falls passed away Friday February 27, 2009 surrounded by his family at his residence while under care from Niagara Hospice.
       Mr. Guenther was born in Niagara Falls, NY on May 9, 1918 a son of the late Gaylord S. and Mary (Sierk) Guenther. He was a 1936 graduate of Niagara Falls High School where he was Captain of the Football team. He continued his education and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1941 and the Thayer School of Engineering in 1942.
       Mr. Guenther served in the United States Navy, Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) from 1942-46 and was discharged from active duty with the rank of Lieutenant. He continued his service in the United States Naval Reserve from 1941-50 where his duty stations included Norfolk, Virginia, Newfoundland, Camps Parks, Shoemaker, Pleasanton, California. While serving he also played on the Fleet City Bluejackets team.
       He met and married Elynor Forster Brown on April 4, 1946. Mrs. Guenther died September 14, 1990.
       His professional civil engineering career included Ben C. Gerwick, Inc. from 1946-49 heavy docks and foundations in the San Francisco Bay area, from 1951-1971 Wright & Kremers, Inc. managing industrial, commercial and public building projects including the Niagara Power Project and from 1972-1986 with the Dravo Corporation in Pittsburgh, PA., in heavy construction management in the United States and Saudi Arabia.
       Mr.Guenther was a life-long member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niagara Falls where he served as an Elder and Trustee. He was active in the Niagara Falls Builder's Association, a life member of the Dartmouth Society of Engineers, American Society of Engineers and the Society of Military Engineers.
       Survivors include three sons, Rev. Dr. Lance L. M. (Peggy) Brown of the Town of Tonawanda, Jack G. (Della) Guenther, Jr. of Grand Island, NY and Otto F. Guenther (Donna Reisert) of New Castle, DE, a daughter Lyane Marie (Guy) Klein of the Town of Tonawanda, 4 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and several nephews and nieces.
       He was predeceased by his sisters, Jane Stone and Marilyn Wilson.
       Friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday March 14 at 12 Noon in the First Presbyterian Church of Niagara Falls, 311 Rainbow Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY with the Rev. David Crapnell officiating. Private burial will be held at the convenience of the family.
       Flowers graciously declined, if desired, memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Niagara Falls or to the YMCA of Niagara Falls.

• Last Edited: 31 Aug 2016

• Charts: Descendants of SIERK Jacob & Wiebke Volkens