Christen, Jacob 1870 - 1956

CHRISTEN, THEUS, DUFF, NYDEGGER, THOMAN, THOMANN, ZAUGG, HANSON

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 6/14/2025 at 12:27:30

Clayton County Register, 26 Apr. 1956.

Jacob Christen was born in Canton, Berne, Switzerland, Aug. 21, 1870, and died at the Postville hospital, April 18, 1956, after a short illness. He reached the age of 85 years and eight months.

He grew to young manhood in Switzerland, and in 1890, came to America and settled in Clayton county, southeast of Elgin, which has been his home during these many years.

He was united in marriage to Marie Ursula Theus Christen in November, 1909. His wife died in 1919, leaving him with a family of small children.

Surviving are three sons: John and Will of Elgin, and Elmer of Guttenberg, one daughter, Mrs. James (Lillian) Duff of Volga, and a step-daughter, Elizabeth Christen of Wilmette, Ill. There are 17 grandchildren; also one sister, Mrs. Fred (Annie) Nydegger Sr. of Elgin, and five half-sisters, Mrs. Joe (Emma) Thomann, Mrs. Will (Rose) Zaugg, both of West Bend; Mrs. Lydia Hanson of Elkader; Mrs. Bert (Celia) Thoman and Lucy Christen of Elgin. There are also three half--brothers; Frank, Walter and Ernest, all of Elgin.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 21, 1956, at the Muehlethaler funeral home at Elgin, with the Rev. E. G. Steinman conducting the service. The Illyria male quartet sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Beyond the Sunset."

Casket bearers were: Edwin Hanson, Patsy Minihan, Ben Hofer, George Leutchenmacher, Martin Hanson and Ben Dennler. Interment was in the Apostolic cemetery.

Relatives and friends from a distance attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Earl Volmer, Mrs. Edward Mangelsdorf, Marie and Mabel Theus, Rock Island, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Theus, Niles, Mich.; Mrs. Edna Johnson, Mrs. Ida Borgelt and Martha Camizell, Davenport; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Thoman, Melbert and Frank, Mrs. Kate Banwart, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Banwart, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Zaugg, Ruby, Clarence and Donald Zaugg, Donna Shaffer, Lawrence and Marilyn Schneider, all of West Bend.

Mr. and Mrs. Arlie Banwart, Ottosen; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Nydegger and family, Manly; Francis Ubersox, Mrs. Lydia Teutschmann, Mrs. Joe Schwartz and Mrs. Morris Monohan, Shullsburg, Wis.; Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Lehman and Robert, Alpha; Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Ayers and granddaughter and grandson, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rickli and daughters, Boscobel, Wis.

Others were from Independence, Lamont, Volga, Wadena, West Union, Haweye, Waucoma, Lasing, Monona, St. Olaf, Farmersburg, Guttenberg and Elkader.