Mahnke, Minna (Rieckoff) 1879 - 1933

MAHNKE, RIECKOFF, BAADE, NUGENT, BUCHHEIM, KUHSE, STAACK

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:24

Clayton County Register, Thur., 23 Nov. 1933. Farmersburg column.

Mrs. August Mahnke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Rieckoff, was born February 1, 1879, in Read township, Clayton county, Iowa.

The childhood days of Mrs. Mahnke were spent with her parents on a farm in Read township. Here, together with her sisters, she learned the love of a parental home. On January 27, 1899, she was united in marriage with August Mahnke, and together with him she settled on a farm in Read township. For 13 years she labored here together with husband and for eight years more on a farm in Wagner township, close to the town of Farmersburg. In 1920 she and her husband moved into the town of Farmersburg, where Mr. Mahnke entered into business, in which he is still engaged.

This marriage was blessed with five children: Elmer, now on a farm near Madison, Wis.; Mahelia, living in Farmersburg; Olga, clerking in a store in Farmersburg; Alice, teaching a school near Farmersburg; and Harvey, assisting his father in business. The kind and loving heart of a mother held the family close to their home. The breaking of this bond will leave a scar not soon to be healed.

Mrs. Mahnke has been, for the past few years, a victim of heart trouble, causing her to refrain from active work. On the 6th of May this year, she was the victim of a stroke, leaving her with one side of her body paralyzed. This seemed to be a foreboding of her coming death. After her stroke, however, she again revived. Her husband and children spared no efforts in making life as pleasant for her as possible. No sacrifice was too great for them to make, showing that a wife and a mother was honored and esteemed. For a time it seemed as though their efforts would be crowned with success. Already they were anticipating the time when she would again be able to move about freely unassisted. On November 5 a cold hindered her progress. This she also overcame so that she was again able to eat at the table with her family. Then on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 12, after she, together with her family, only one son being absent, had been at lunch, death quickly took her from their midst. While the children were helping her she slumped in her chair, the victim of another stroke. She died a quick and peaceful death on Nov. 12, 1933, at 3:45, at the age of 54 years, nine months and 12 days.

Two sisters, Mrs. Wm. Baade and Mrs. George Nugent, preceded her in death; also two brothers and one sister in infancy and one brother, Helmuth, at the tender age of two years.

She leaves to mourn her husband and five children, Elmer of Madison, Wis.; Mahelia of Farmersburg; Olga, Alice and Harvey also of Farmersburg. One grandchild, Dorothy, and four sisters: Mrs. August Buchheim of Humbolt, S.D.; Mrs. Otto Buchheim of Clayton Center; Mrs. Rudolph Kuhse of Farmersburg; and Mrs. Wm. Staack of Clayton Center.

(Note: See the IGPP dual gravestone of August F. and Minna Mahnke in Farmersburg / Wagner cemetery.)