Henry Grabau (1852-1936)

GRABAU, HASSTEDT, DEHN, CROUTHAMEL, RUSCHMEYER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/21/2011 at 21:57:32

Long Resident Farmer Dies at Home Near Boone

Henry Grabau Passes Away Thursday - On Home Farm Northeast of Boone

Mr. Grabau Had Lived 50 Years in Boone County. Survived by Six Children. Funeral Arrangements Not Made

Henry Grabau a resident of Boone for many years succumbed Thursday afternoon at 2:10 o'clock at his home northeast of Boone. Mr. Grabau lived with one of his sons on the home farm. He was 84 years old and his death was caused from complications due to his advanced years. He had been a farmer all his life and had lived on the farm where he died for over 50 years.

His wife preceded him in death a year ago, and he is survived by the following children: Messrs, Fred, Chris, Henry, Herman and Walter Grabau, and one daughter, Mrs. Russell Crouthamel. Mr. Grabau lived with his son, Walter. To them the sympathy of many friends is extended in their bereavement.

Arrangements for the funeral are incomplete and will be announced later.

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Henry Grabau's Funeral Rites in Home, Church

Boone County Man was Born in Germany

Came to U.S. with Cousin When Eighteen

Observed His 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1927, Wife Preceeding Him in Death During August of 1935.

Brief services for the late Henry Grabau, who passed away at the rural home in Des Moines Township on Thursday of the past week, were conducted Sunday at 2:00 p.m., in charge of the Rev. Otto Erbe of Trinity Lutheran Church, who read the ritual and offered prayer.

Friends and relatives had met at Trinity Lutheran at 2:30. The pastor based his remarks on I Thess. 5.6: "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober."

A quartet, Mesdames Reuben Hauge, Lenore Kruse, Otto Braklow and Pearle Church sang "Nearer My God to Thee" and Wo findet die Selle die Heimat die Rub."

The many flowers were in charge of Mr. and Mrs. Newton Dyer and Mrs. Clyde Edson. The casket was borne to the grave by grandchildren: Henry and Harold Crouthamel, Harold Grabau, Lawrence Grabau, Otto and George Grabau. Interment was in Linwood Park Cemetery, west.

Born in Germany

Henry Grabau, the third child of Dietrich and Adelheid (Hasstedt) Grabau was born October 23, 1852, in Kolheim, Germany. He attended the schools of his native village joining the Lutheran church by the rite of confirmation at the usual time. Until eighteen years of age he found employment in a glass factory of that locality, emigrating to America with his cousin Charles Hasstedt, in 1870 and locating in the city of New York, where he found employment for a period of two years in a grocery store.

On his arrival in Boone, the deceased worked on a farm north of town until the date of his marriage to Minnie Dehn on April 20, 1877, the young couple residing on a farm in Jackson Township for the following three years. Eventually they purchased the farm located in Des Moines Township and continually resided there for a term of 55 years.

In 1927 the family rejoiced in being able to spend the 50th wedding anniversary of the aged parents on the old Grabau homestead, all children and grandchildren being present. Mrs. Grabau departed this life August 3, 1935, since which time the deceased made his home with his son, Walter.

His Survivors

He is survived by the children: Fred, Chris, Henry, Herman, Walter, and Mrs. Russell Crouthamel, all of Boone and Story Counties. Twenty-five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren also survive.

Two brothers, John and Dick Grabau and one sister, Mrs. John Ruschmeyer remain of the Grabau family which located here in the early eighties.

Henry Grabau passing away July 9 at the rural home attained the age of 83 years, 3 months and 17 days, death being caused by the infirmities of old age and complications. One of the pioneer settlers of this county has gone to his reward and the sympathy of friends and neighbors is extended the family in their bereavement.