German Death Card · primary-source record
Franz Xaver Riepertinger
abt 1889 (computed from age at death) – 19 October 1916
Died 19 October 1916 · fell on the Somme
Editorially verified
At-a-glance facts
Record type
German Death Card
Date of death
19 October 1916
Date of birth
abt 1889 (computed from age at death)
Age at death
27 years
Place of death
in the heavy fighting on the Somme (an der Somme)
The german death card
From the funeral card
Zum frommen Andenken im Gebete
an den tugendsamen Jüngling
Franz Xav. Riepertinger
Kasparschmidbauerssohn v. Antwort
Soldat im 1. bayr. Infanterie Regt.
welcher am 19. Oktober 1916, nach
8monatlicher, treuester Pflichterfüllung
in den schweren Kämpfen an der Somme
im Alter von 27 Jahren den Helden-
tod fürs Vaterland starb.
O weinet nicht! Ich bin Euch nicht gestorben,
Ein ewig selig Leben ging mir auf
O seh't Ihr ihn, den Kranz den ich erworben,
Es hemmte gleich sich Eurer Tränen Lauf.
Hier wohnt der Friede, leuchtet ew'ges Licht.
O weinet nicht!
O weinet nicht! Was sollt ich länger wallen.
Im dunklen Land, wo Tod u. Sünd Euch schreckt?
Mir ist das Los, das herrlichste, gefallen:
Mein Palmzweig grünt, mein Kleid ist unbefleckt,
Ich schau' in Wonne Gottes Angesicht.
O weinet nicht!
Vater unser u. s. w.
Buchdruckerei „Wendelstein" Rosenheim [?]
Contributor's notes & card translation
A soldier in 1st Bavarian Infantry Regiment, killed on 19th October 1916 and buried on the Somme. This is an excellent full 'Feldgrau' portrait, complete with ammunition pouches and farewell flowers pinned to his tunic. According to the German War Graves Registration he is buried at Rancourt in a 'Comrades Grave'
English translation of the card text: In pious remembrance in prayer of the virtuous young man Franz Xav. Riepertinger, son of the Kasparschmidbauer farm of Antwort, soldier in the 1st Bavarian Infantry Regiment, who on 19 October 1916, after eight months of most faithful fulfilment of duty, died a hero's death for the Fatherland in the heavy fighting on the Somme at the age of 27 years. "O weep not! I have not died to you; an everlasting blessed life has dawned for me. O could you but see the wreath that I have won, the flow of your tears would at once be stayed. Here peace dwells, eternal light shines. O weep not! O weep not! Why should I wander longer in the dark land, where death and sin affright you? The most glorious lot has fallen to me: my palm branch is green, my garment is unstained, I gaze in bliss upon the face of God. O weep not!" Our Father, etc. Printed by the "Wendelstein" printing house, Rosenheim. These small prayer cards (Sterbebilder) were given to family and friends in the Roman Catholic tradition.
Record submitted by
From the Ancestors at Rest archive
Source & citation
- Source type
- Photograph & transcription
- Provenance
- From the Ancestors at Rest archive — founded 2004 by Brian and substantially built out across two decades by Lorine McGinnis Schulze of Olive Tree Genealogy.
- Transcribed by
- Ancestors at Rest archive — original contributor not recorded.
- Last verified
- 2026-07-02
- Permalink
- /records/funeral-cards/riepertinger-franz-xaver-1916/
- Image vs transcription
- Both — photograph of the card and a transcription of its German text on this page
Citation: "German death card (Sterbebild) of Franz Xaver Riepertinger, 1st Bavarian Infantry Regiment (1. bayr. Infanterie Regt.), fell 19 October 1916 in the heavy fighting on the Somme (an der Somme)," photographed and contributed to the Ancestors at Rest archive (https://ancestorsatrest.com/records/funeral-cards/riepertinger-franz-xaver-1916/ : accessed [your access date]).
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