I have agonized for years over whether to present the following published obituary for my Grand Uncle Frank. At the time of his death the view of mental health was quite different; I doubt that a newspaper today would publish such an obituary. Frank was committed to the State Hospital for the Insane in Norfolk Nebraska in the fall of 1906. The rumor was that Frank became extremely distraught following the rejection of a young woman whom he loved. Frank's younger sister Anna Svoboda was also committed to the State Hospital for the Insane sometime in early 1906, reportedly after chasing her mother with a butcher knife. [Anna lived the remainder of her life in the State Hospital until her death in 1955.] Here is Frank's obituary as published:
The Phonograph Press
St. Paul, Nebraska
Friday, January 4, 1907
Frank Svoboda, son of Frank Svoboda, sr., living four miles north of St. Paul, committed suicide at Norfolk asylum for the insane on the 24th day of December. He was sent to the asylum only a few months ago by the insanity board. In some manner he procured a razor with which he committed the awful deed. He way [sic] 24 years of age and up to the time he began to show his insanity was a young man highly respected by all who knew him. His funeral was held in the Presbyterian church last Sunday afternoon.
The Phonograph Press
St. Paul, Nebraska
Friday, January 4, 1907
Frank Svoboda, son of Frank Svoboda, sr., living four miles north of St. Paul, committed suicide at Norfolk asylum for the insane on the 24th day of December. He was sent to the asylum only a few months ago by the insanity board. In some manner he procured a razor with which he committed the awful deed. He way [sic] 24 years of age and up to the time he began to show his insanity was a young man highly respected by all who knew him. His funeral was held in the Presbyterian church last Sunday afternoon.
I have agonized for years over whether to present the following published obituary for my Grand Uncle Frank. At the time of his death the view of mental health was quite different; I doubt that a newspaper today would publish such an obituary. Frank was committed to the State Hospital for the Insane in Norfolk Nebraska in the fall of 1906. The rumor was that Frank became extremely distraught following the rejection of a young woman whom he loved. Frank's younger sister Anna Svoboda was also committed to the State Hospital for the Insane sometime in early 1906, reportedly after chasing her mother with a butcher knife. [Anna lived the remainder of her life in the State Hospital until her death in 1955.] Here is Frank's obituary as published:
The Phonograph Press
St. Paul, Nebraska
Friday, January 4, 1907
Frank Svoboda, son of Frank Svoboda, sr., living four miles north of St. Paul, committed suicide at Norfolk asylum for the insane on the 24th day of December. He was sent to the asylum only a few months ago by the insanity board. In some manner he procured a razor with which he committed the awful deed. He way [sic] 24 years of age and up to the time he began to show his insanity was a young man highly respected by all who knew him. His funeral was held in the Presbyterian church last Sunday afternoon.
The Phonograph Press
St. Paul, Nebraska
Friday, January 4, 1907
Frank Svoboda, son of Frank Svoboda, sr., living four miles north of St. Paul, committed suicide at Norfolk asylum for the insane on the 24th day of December. He was sent to the asylum only a few months ago by the insanity board. In some manner he procured a razor with which he committed the awful deed. He way [sic] 24 years of age and up to the time he began to show his insanity was a young man highly respected by all who knew him. His funeral was held in the Presbyterian church last Sunday afternoon.
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