Harnack, Louise (Greimann) 1856-1948

HARNACK, GREIMANN, CUTLER, SCHULTE, OHLENDORF, MOHNING, BENJEGERDES, BORM, BECKER

Posted By: Linda Mohning (email)
Date: 4/23/2007 at 19:49:00

Rites Wednesday
For Mrs. Harnack

Dies in Home Early Monday
At Age of 92 After
Short Illness

Death early Monday claimed Mrs. Louise Harnack, 92, one of Remsen’s oldest, who passed away in her home following a brief illness, her death being ascribed to the general decline brought on by the weight of years. Surviving the venerable lady who has lived here 65 years, are a son and three daughters. Funeral services were held Wednesday.

Mrs. Harnack had been in a feeble state for many months but until two weeks ago had been able to be up and about the home premises as usual, requiring little or no physical assistance or medical aid. Suddenly, two weeks prior to her death, she suffered a general weakness and during the last week of her life was confined to the sickroom where she passed away at 12:30 o’clock Monday morning.

Louise Anna Harnack, born Feb 21, 1856 on a farm near Guttenberg, Clayton county, Iowa, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Greimann, who settled there in the era when farmers plowed their fields with the aid of oxen. She lived at home until her marriage to John Harnack, also of that community, March 19, 1880. The marriage took place in Clayton Center, Clayton county.

After farming in that vicinity for three years Mr. and Mrs. Harnack, with their firstborn, came to Remsen in 1883 and settled on the farm two miles south of town, still owned and operated by their son, John.

Mr. and Mrs. Harnack farmed the same place for 38 years and through their diligence and exemplary tactics were eminently successful. Along with farming, Mr. Harnack was a carpentry hobbyist and it was he who was given the contract for building the first Christ Lutheran church edifice in Remsen, in 1895-96. The building was torn down several years ago and replaced by the present brick structure.

The Harnacks retired in 1921 and came to enjoy their well-earned rest in Remsen, thus remaining among their host of good friends and numerous relatives. Mr. Harnack passed away Jan. 16, 1931. Since then Mrs. Harnack shared the home with her daughter, Miss Bertha.

Mrs. Harnack was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith as a child in her native home, Guttenberg, and throughout her long life was a staunch member. In Remsen she and her husband were charter members of Christ congregation. While Mrs. Harnack did not affiliate as a member with the Ladies Aid, she was one of its staunchest supporters, serving the organization in various ways and making many generous contributions in materials and funds. She was a true Christian in every sense of the word; a devoted mother whose constant and sole aim was to look after the welfare of her family in addition to being of service to her church and to her Creator. Her friends were numbered by her mere acquaintances, all of whom were deeply concerned over her condition during her final days on earth.

Mrs. Harnack was the last of eight children in the Greimann family. She mothered six children, two of whom preceded her in death. Mary died in 1915 and Henry in 1928. Surviving are Mrs. Ernest (Anna) Cutler, Worthington, Minn.; Miss Bertha, Remsen but who is a surgical patient in Kansas City, Mo.; Miss Elizabeth, Detroit, Mich.; and John, on the old home farm south of town.

There are five grandchildren: Ruth, Robert, Kenneth and Curtis, children of Mrs. Caroline Harnack, and Lois, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Harnack.

The body was at the Moeller funeral home and services were held there at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon, later in Christ Lutheran church and conducted by the Rev. A. Noack. Interment was in the Remsen cemetery.

Pall bearers were I.H. Schulte, A.D. Ohlendorf, Louis Mohning, Wm Benjegerdes, Hans Borm and Alwin Becker.

Source: Remsen Bell-Enterprise, Remsen, Iowa