German Death Card · primary-source record
Josef Stettwieser
circa September 1894 (computed from age at death) – 23 March 1918
Died 23 March 1918 · fell in the First World War
Editorially verified
At-a-glance facts
Record type
German Death Card
Date of death
23 March 1918
Date of birth
circa September 1894 (computed from age at death)
Age at death
23 years and 6 months (im Alter von 23 Jahren und 6 Monaten)
The german death card
From the funeral card
Den Heldentod fürs Vaterland
starb am 23. März 1918 nach 40 monat-
licher treuer Pflichterfüllung im Alter von
23 Jahren und 6 Monaten
der tugendsame Jüngling
Josef Stettwieser,
Fridlsohn [?] von Eschenau,
Pfarrei Pittenhart,
Gefr. d. 4. Komp. des 24. b. Inf.-Rgts.,
Inhaber des Eisernen Kreuzes 2. Kl.
u. des bayer. Verdienstkreuzes 3. Kl.
O Eltern und Geschwister mein
Ich kehre nicht mehr zu Euch heim,
Der letzte Gedanke, der letzte Blick,
Sie eilten noch zu Euch zurück.
Als ich starb im Feindesland,
Reichte niemand mir die Hand,
Doch eh' mein Aug' gebrochen
Sah den Himmel ich schon offen.
Heiligstes Herz Christi, erbarme Dich der sterbenden
Krieger! — Vater unser. — Ave Maria.
Buchdruckerei Hans Werkmeister, Obing.
Contributor's notes & card translation
Josef Stettwieser, who died 23-3-18. NCO in the 24th Bavarian Infantry Regt.
English translation of the card text: Died a hero's death for the Fatherland on 23 March 1918, after 40 months of faithful fulfilment of duty, at the age of 23 years and 6 months: the virtuous young man Josef Stettwieser, son of the Fridl farm at Eschenau, parish of Pittenhart; Gefreiter (lance-corporal) of the 4th Company of the 24th Bavarian Infantry Regiment, holder of the Iron Cross 2nd Class and of the Bavarian Merit Cross 3rd Class. "O parents and siblings of mine, I return home to you no more; the last thought, the last glance still hurried back to you. When I died in the enemy's land, no one reached out a hand to me, yet before my eye broke I already saw heaven open." Most Sacred Heart of Christ, have mercy on the dying soldiers! — Our Father. — Hail Mary. (Printed by the Hans Werkmeister press, Obing.) 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/stettwieser-josef-1918/
- Image vs transcription
- Both — photograph of the card and a transcription of its German text on this page
Citation: "German death card (Sterbebild) of Josef Stettwieser, 4th Company, 24th Bavarian Infantry Regiment, fell 23 March 1918," photographed and contributed to the Ancestors at Rest archive (https://ancestorsatrest.com/records/funeral-cards/stettwieser-josef-1918/ : accessed [your access date]).
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