Diers, Frederick John 1829 - 1916

DIERS, TANGEMAN, STOFFERS, TOWNER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 3/15/2019 at 10:12:58

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 4 May 1916. From the Louisville (Nebraska) Weekly Courier, undated.
Frederick John Diers, father of our townsman, W. F. Diers, departed this life at 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18th, 1916, in Gretna, Neb., at the home of his daughter, Mrs. H. J. Tangeman, with whom he and his wife lived for many years. Death came as a general decline, the result of old age, Mr. Diers having passed his 86th milestone, being 86 years, 7 months and 6 days old.

He was the embodiment of some of the finest traits of character. His truthfulness and honesty became proverbial among his associates. He never hesitated to stand by his convictions, always supporting without flinching whatever he believed to be right. His nature was cheerful and genial and no cloud ever was so dark that he could not find for it a silver lining. He never forgot a kindness and delighted in being kind himself and the loyal affection of his children and his grandchildren was a constant joy to him.

He believed firmly in a hereafter and was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, which he continued in until the end.

He was born in Neuenberg, Germany, September 12th, 1829. He came to America at the age of twenty-five. On November 17th, 1855, he was married to Caroline Stoffers in Read township, Clayton county, Iowa, where they began their wedded life together on a farm and at which place they resided for thirty-seven years. To them were born eight children, six sons and two daughters, all having been born in the same township in Iowa.

In 1892 they left the old home in Iowa and came to Nebraska, where all the children had preceded them. In 1905 they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at the home of their daughter, Mrs. H. J. Tangeman, who at that time was living in Louisville. Later, when the Tangeman family moved to Gretna, Mr. and Mrs. Diers accompanied them. On December 27th, 1913 the aged wife passed peacefully away and the courage with which he manfully met this affliction was an inspiration to the sorrowing children and friends.

The sons are prominent merchants in this state: John being located at Fullerton; Henry, at Ulysses; Herman, at Gresham; Fred, at Madison; William F., at Louisville, and Lewis, at Humphrey. One daughter, Mrs. H. J. Tangeman, is the wife of a prominent merchant at Gretna, and the other daughter, Mrs. W. D. Towner, is the wife of county treasurer of Greeley county, Greeley, Neb.

The funeral services were held on Thursday, April 20th, at the Tangeman home in Gretna, and the funeral party then departed for Ulysses, Neb., where the last services were held from the home of his son Henry, Rev. McClure of the Methodist Church officiating, there being no Lutheran Church in Ulysses. One beautiful feature of the funeral services was that the six sons, all stalwart men, none of whom are under six feet, acted as pallbearers, and never was a casket borne with more love or veneration.

The keynote of Grandfather Diers' life was simplicity. He abhorred all ostentatious display and his wishes were carried out so far as possible in the funeral service, all the features being marked by a simplicity of which he would have approved.

The many friends of the family in this vicinity join us in extending sincere sympathy for the loss of their father, the memory of whose life will ever linger with them as a peaceful benediction. - Louisville Weekly Courier.