Sometimes, even on the threshold of Christmas, a door closes quietly against Santa Claus and he is denied the realization of fond hopes.
This happened to Julius W. Liedtke of 63 Bayberry Ave., West Seneca, a man who loved children. He was 87, but he was looking forward to Christmas.
He had grown a beard and had a Santa Claus suit all ready. Neighborhood children had been invited to the house Christmas Day.
“I’ll give them a good time,” Mr. Liedtke had said with a smile.
At 87 he was still thinking of innovations. The idea of a real beard for Santa Claus was one he had never carried out before.
Mr. Liedtke died Monday (Dec. 21, 1959) in his home after a heart attack.
A native of Germany, he came to the United States in 1888, moving from Reading, Pa., to Buffalo in 1896.
He was employed by the Elias Lumber Co. and the Buffalo Forge Co. Later he became a rigger and worked for several companies including William Higgins & Sons Inc. and Kulp-Waco Corp.
Mr. Liedtke was a member of St. Matthew’s United Church of Christ for almost 60 years. He and the former Elizabeth Weiss were married there in 1900. They lived on Walter St. for more than 30 years before moving to West Seneca in 1955.
Survivors are his wife; a son, Arthur F.; two daughters, Mrs. Burrows H. Gilbert of East Aurora and Miss Lillian M. Liedtke, and a sister, Mrs. Gottlieb Brandt of Akron.
The funeral will be at 2PM Thursday in the Loomis, Offers & Loomis Inc. Memorial Chapel, 1820 Seneca St. The Rev. Lawrence J. Rezash will officiate. Burial will be in St. Matthew’s Cemetery, Gardenville.
