Rider, Louisa (Mertens), formerly Stemmer, 1877-1951

STEMMER, RIDER, MERTENS, BETKE, KRUSE, BEHN, HEIDEN, JELENICK, MOELLER, MORLEY, MARDAUSS, ZABLE, BODAMER, YONKE

Posted By: Ken Johnson (email)
Date: 1/9/2016 at 17:35:04

[From Thurs., 30 Aug. 1951 issue, Clayton County Register, Elkader, IA, page 8, columns 4-5]

MRS. WM. RIDER

Mrs. Rider was born Sept. 22, 1877, in Farmersburg Twp., Clayton Co., Iowa.

She had been failing in health for some time and suffered a stroke on June 1st, 1951. At that time she was taken to the hospital where she remained for three weeks. On June 19th she recovered sufficiently to return home. Her one desire was to visit the homes of her daughters in Iowa and the old home farm now operated by her grandson, Eldon Kruse. She was privileged to do this on July 28th. She was planning on returning to her home on July 31st, but on that morning suffered another stroke while in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Geo. Behn. She was immediately taken to the Prairie du Chien hospital where her condition remained critical and she passed away on August 21st, 1951, at the age of seventy-three years, eleven months and one day.

Mrs. Rider was the daughter of Fritz Mertens and his wife Frederike nee Betke. She was baptized in infancy and later confirmed in the Zion Lutheran church at Clayton Center, Iowa. Later the family moved to Communia, Iowa.

On April 12th, 1898, she was united in marriage to Wm. J. Stemmer of near Communia, Iowa. Three children were born to this union: Mrs. Martha Kruse, Mrs. Mabel Behn and Mrs. Irma Heiden, all of Elkader. Mr. Stemmer passed away on April 2nd, 1919, on the farm near Communia, Iowa, on which they had resided since their marriage.

On February 16th, 1927, she was united in marriage to Wm. J. Rider of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, where they have made their home ever since.

Mrs. Rider was preceded in death by the following: her parents, three brothers, her first husband and one great granddaughter. Her death is mourned by her husband, Wm. Rider, her three daughters, Mrs. L. J. Kruse, Mrs. Geo. Behn and Mrs. Irma Heiden. One step-daughter, Mrs. Gladys Jelenick, of Portland, Oregeon. Two stepsons, Harry Rider of Portland, Oregon and Clarence Rider of Bridgeport, Wisconsin. Two grandson, Eldon Kruse of Elkport and Richard Heiden of Elkader. Two step-grandsons, Carl Rider of Prairie du Chien and Paul Jelenick. Two great-grandchildren of Eldon Kruse and also two great-grandchildren of Carl Rider. Four sisters: Mrs. Lena Moeller of Farmersburg, Mrs. Ben Morley of Osterdock, Mrs. Emma Mardauss and Mrs. Mary Zable of Prairie du Chien, Wis. Also a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral service was held from the Lake Funeral Home at Prairie du Chien on August 24th, 1951, at 12:45 p.m. and from the St. Peters Evangelical Lutheran church at one o’clock, of which Mrs. Rider was a member. The Rev. Bodamer was the officiating pastor. Interment was at Communia, Iowa.

Pallbearers were: Clarence Rider, George Yonke, Carl Rider, George Mardauss, Eldon Kruse, Richard Heiden.

Card of Thanks

We wish to thank every one for the beautiful floral offerings, the Memorial Gifts in money, food and all other kindnesses shown during the illness of our beloved wife and mother.

Mr. Wm. Rider
Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Kruse
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Behn
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Heiden.

[NOTE: Her tombstone at findagrave.com gives her name as “Louisa A.”]