Hollerich v. Gronbach

96 N.E.2d 354, 342 Ill. App. 242
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedFebruary 12, 1951
DocketGen. 10,421
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 96 N.E.2d 354 (Hollerich v. Gronbach) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hollerich v. Gronbach, 96 N.E.2d 354, 342 Ill. App. 242 (Ill. Ct. App. 1951).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Dove

delivered the opinion of the court.

On April 1, 1926, Henry Gronbach died testate leaving him surviving his widow, Pena Gronbach, but no child or children or descendants of any child or children. His will was duly admitted to probate, and his estate fully administered in the county court of Bureau county. The first clause of his will directed that all his just debts and funeral expenses be paid. By the second clause, he bequeathed all his personal property and effects of every kind and nature to his wife absolutely and forever. The third and fourth clauses of his will are as follows, viz:

“Third, I give, devise and bequeath all of my real property wheresoever the same may be situated, whether owned by me now or acquired by me hereafter, to my beloved wife, Pena Gronbach, for and during the term of her natural fife, together with the right to use and enjoy the same and the rents, issues and profits thereof; together with unlimited discretionary power to sell and dispose of all or any part of said property absolutely, at such time or times, and upon such terms as she shall deem advisable, and to convey the same by absolute conveyance in fee simple; as well as unlimited discretionary power to encumber all or any part of said property;

14 Fourth, Upon the death of my said wife, all of my said real estate, which she has not sold and disposed of, pursuant to the authority given her in the foregoing clause of this will, I give, devise and bequeath as follows, to-wit: an undivided one-half thereof to the following named nephews and nieces (being the children of my brother George Gronbach), to-wit: Henry Gronbach, George Gronbach, Fred Gronbach, Edward Gronbach, Pena Gronbach Decker, Gertrude McKee and Lottie Gronbach, in equal shares, to-wit, an undivided one-seventh part of said undivided one-half to each, absolutely and forever; and the remaining one-half of said real estate to Darlene Goering, niece of my wife and the following named second cousins of my wife, to-wit, Howard Scott, Dorothy Scott, Gilbert Scott, David Kippling, Kenneth Kippling, Alice Halte and Ferdinand Halte, in equal shares, to-wit, an undivided one-eighth part of said undivided one-half to each, absolutely and forever.”

On October 24, 1946, Pena Gronbach conveyed by her deed to Barney Cyrus and Frank J. Cyrus all of the real estate owned by her deceased husband at the time of his death. The consideration for said conveyance was $30,000, of which $12,000 was paid in cash and the balance of the purchase price was evidenced by a note for $18,000 the payment of which was secured by a trust deed on said property. This note was dated October 24, 1946, and was due on or before March 1, 1950. The purchasers of the land, however, reserved the right to pay $100 or any multiple thereof on March 1, 1947, or upon any interest paying date thereafter.

Pena Gronbaeh died testate on January 9, 1947. Her will was duly admitted to probate, and appellant, Judge C. N. Hollerich, was appointed executor of her estate which is in the process of administration. Subsequently the purchasers of the real estate paid to Judge Hollerich, as executor, the note of $18,000 and the trust deed securing the payment of the same was released of record.

By the provisions of the will of Pena Gronbaeh, after directing that all her debts and funeral expenses be paid and after mailing a number of specific bequests, the testator gave, devised and bequeathed all of the rest, residue and remainder of her property to La Salle National Bank and Trust Company, as trustee, with authority to manage and care for the real estate and to hold and invest and reinvest the personal property for the benefit of Betty Halte, daughter of her cousin, Albert Halte. The trust was to be terminated upon the marriage or death of Betty Halte and the net proceeds thereof were to be paid to Betty Halte, if living, or if deceased, then to her then surviving brothers and sisters.

An August 12, 1947, the instant complaint was filed seeking a construction of the third and fourth clauses of the Henry Gronbaeh will and praying for a decree finding that Pena Gronbaeh had full power to convey the real estate described in the complaint to Barney Cyrus and Frank J. Cyrus; that the proceeds of the sale, both cash and the note secured by the trust deed, became her absolute and individual property and that upon her death the proceeds of said sale which remained in her hands became assets of her estate and that none of the devisees named in the fourth paragraph of the will of Henry Gronbach take anything whatsoever under the provisions of paragraphs three and four of said will. On April 12, 1949, an amendment to the complaint was filed by leave of court, adding an alternative prayer for relief to the effect that the court decree that the proceeds arising from the sale of the real estate described in the complaint or so much of the proceeds as remained in the hands of Pena Gronbach, at the time of her death, became, upon her death, intestate personal property of the estate of Henry Gronbach, deceased.

La Salle National Bank and Trust Co., trustee for Betty Halte, and Betty Halte, residuary legatee and devisee under the will of Pena Gronbach, answered admitting all of the allegations of the complaint and joined in the prayer thereof for judgment. The nieces and nephews of Henry Gronbach, named in the fourth paragraph of his will, answered claiming that upon the sale of the real estate, the proceeds thereof became substituted for said real estate and stood in place of it; that when Pena Gronbach sold and disposed of the real estate described in the complaint, she became entitled to the income of and interest on the sums of money received therefor; that she became entitled to only the life use of the purchase price and became the trustee of said funds for the benefit of these defendants; that upon her death her executor became such trustee of said funds so received by her and of the principal payments made by the purchasers of said real estate after her death, and that said payments for said real estate can be traced and identified in the hands of Pena Gronbach and her executor.

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Bluebook (online)
96 N.E.2d 354, 342 Ill. App. 242, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hollerich-v-gronbach-illappct-1951.