HANSEN, August

HANSEN, DERRER, FLOY, BRANDT, OBRECHT

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/29/2014 at 01:03:44

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Obituary - August Hansen
June 29, 1865 ~ August 17, 1942

Funeral services for August Hansen, a resident of Thornton and community for nearly 60 years, were held Wednesday afternoon at the home at 1:30 o'clock and at the English Lutheran church at 2 o'clock. Rev. H. J. Enser, pastor, was in charge.

August Hansen was born June 29, 1865, the son of Peter and Fredricka Hansen, who lived in the village of Westerfeldt, in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He was made a child of God through Holy Baptism on July 20 of the same year. On April 3, 1881, at the age of 15 years he was confirmed in the Lutheran faith by a pastor Reuter in Germany.

In 1881 his parents came to America, and a year later Mr. Hansen followed, going first to the state of Delaware, then to Clinton, Iowa, and then to the vicinity of Thornton in the fall of 1883, where he lived until his death.

On October 6, 1891 he was united in marriage with Julia Derrer, of Rockwell, by the Rev. Olderson of that place. This happy couple lived on a farm in Wisner township, Franklin county. This marriage was blessed with seven children.

It was on their farm in Wisner township that the couple spent all but seven years of their wedded life, and it was there that on October 6, 1941 they celebrated the anniversary of 50 years of married life together.

Through most of his long and useful life God blessed him with good health. During the last 17 years he suffered periodically from various ailments, but was always sufficiently restored to health so that he could resume a comparatively normal life.

On Friday, August 14, 1942, he was taken to a hospital in Mason City suffering from an ailment or combination of ailments the nature of which was not definitely determined. On Sunday afternoon, August 16, his condition became serious. His children were called to his bedside and did what was humanly possible to make his last hours easier for him.

His Heavenly Father, to whom he was devoted throughout his long life, took him to Himself at 10 minutes before 5 on the morning of August 17 at the age of 77 years, one month and 19 days.

Mr. Hansen was a charter member of St. Paul's Lutheran church of Thornton, and was the only living charter member at the time the church held its 50th anniversary in 1940.

He leaves to cherish his memory, besides his faithful wife and loving companion, three sons, Charles of Rockwell, Harry of near Mason City, and Edwin of Cheyenne, Wyoming; four daughters, (Etta) Mrs Carl Floy of Thornton, (Matilda) Mrs. Walter Brandt of Colfax, Ill, (Effie) Mrs. Floyd Obrecht of Thornton and (Mildred) Mrs. Will Floy, Jr. also of Thornton; 19 grandchildren and two great grandchildren; two brothers, Chris of Seattle, Wash., and Anton of Meriden, Wyo., besides hundreds of friends and acquaintances.

He was a man with a sound and thoroughly Christian philosophy of life, bearing life's burdens without complaining, and always kind and congenial and ready to help old and young alike.

Before God he considered himself a humble and contrite sinner in need of His grace and mercy, and was a faithful church-goer and communicant. It was before the alter of his church that he received the assurance of forgiveness a week before his passing.

Honorary pallbearers: Peter Miller Sr., Anthony Floy, Walter Parish, Soren Faaborg, Hans Bramsen, J. A. Althen, George Hartwig Sr.. and Andrew Long. Pallbearers: six grandchildren.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2014