Liebenstein, Harry J. 1889-1939

LIEBENSTEIN, BOREHARDT

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 6/8/2021 at 20:14:17

Harry John Liebenstein was born in McGregor, Iowa, on November ?, 1889 almost before the cannon and rifles of the Spanish American War had cooled from their deadly business of killing and wounding. Even as he first saw the light of day in the home of his parents John and Sarah Liebenstein the soldiers of that war were dying upon their hospital beds and in their homes from their wounds, 49 years, 9 months and 3 days passed by and again the sounds of war were abroad in the world as he passed away at Allen Memorial hospital in Waterloo on August 2, 1939, thus he entered the world as peace came upon his native country and he left it as once more the noises of conflict were a threat in the world.

When but two years of age, he removed to Pearl City, Illinois with his parents and, when ten years old, he once more went with them to Whittemore, Iowa where they made their home and where Harry grew to manhood, learning the mercantile business in his father's store.

On June 9, 1916, he was married to Mollie Borehardt at St. Paul, and they went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he engaged in the business of tea and coffee distribution.

In 1929, he was forced by ill health to sell his business and they moved to Ottumwa, Iowa, for a time coming from there to Fredericksburg, Iowa on November 14, 1935 where he became the proprietor of the Corner Store which has since then been a popular place to trade for it thrived under his management until the day of his passing.

On Sunday morning July 30, he became such worse and was taken to Allen Memorial hospital in Waterloo where he was operated upon for carcinoma on Tuesday and passed away on Wednesday with his family around him, able to speak to them and see them about him.

He leaves to mourn his passing from death unto life, a loving wife, one son Jack, and two daughters, Doria and Phyllis, all of whom were at home, his aged father and mother and a sister Agnes, all of Hubbard, Iowa, together with a host of other relatives and friends also survive his decease.

Ever a friend of uprightness and decency, always honest in his dealing with his public, a liberal supporter of every worthy cause, and ever ready to do more than his part in contributing to the welfare of his community. He always believed in God and the ultimate victory of right over wrong. If no good things are ever lost and truth is never destroyed, then in our deceased brother, we are assured of an eternal monument contributed by his life among us for he was always self-effacing and humble, loving and serving not only his immediate family but many others whom he found to be in need; honest in his business, diligent in it, extending that honesty to the cause of Christ thru the churches and other organizations.

The sincere sympathy of the whole community, therefore goes out to the bereft ones because of the feeling of loss to the civic life of all of us.

Funeral services were held in Fredericksburg at the family home on Saturday afternoon in charge of Rev. Tiffany of the Methodist church with music by a quartette composed of Miss Carrie Ellis and Mesdames McClure, Rollins and Upham, with Mrs. Smith as accompanist. The interment was in the Council Hill cemetery near McGregor later in the afternoon.

~Fredericksburg News, Thursday, August 10, 1939; pg 1 (Chickasaw co. IA)

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Note: his son Jack was John A. Liebenstein, who died of wounds during WWII

Transcriber's observation: The reference to his birth as the Spanish-American war was ending, doesn't make sense. This war started some years after his birth and ended when he was about 10 years old.