AHRENS, Irene

AHRENS, BETTS

Posted By: Nettie Mae (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:30

The Clinton Herald, Sept. 26, 1913
Page 3

DEATH FOLLOWS QUICKLY ACUTE BRIGHT'S DISEASE
(Herald's Special Service)

Lost Nation, Sept 26 -- Miss Irene Ahrens died at 11:40 o'clock last night at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louise [sic] Ahrens, at the age of 19 years, 2 months and 20 days.
The deceased was born in this city and had spent her entire life here with the exception of one year spent at the high school at Nevada, Mo. and a time in the State Normal college at Cedar Falls, following her graduation from the high school of this city.
She had been teaching school this fall and was in the school room as late as Tuesday when she was attacted with acute Bright's disease. Last night at 10 o'clock she lapsed into a state of coma from which she never emerged, death following in a short time.
She was the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ahrens and was greatly beloved by all who knew her. Besides her parents she is survived by a younger sister, Hazel Ahrens.

The Clinton Herald, Sept. 27, 1913
Page 8

FUNERAL SUNDAY
(Herald's Special Service)

Lost Nation Sept 27 -- The funeral of Irene Ahrens will be held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the Union church.

The Clinton Herald, Oct. 1, 1913
Page 8

AN OBITUARY
Brief Sketch of the Life of the Late Irene Ahrens of Lost Nation.

Lost Nation, Oct 1 -- The following obituary of Irene Ahrens was written by her pastor, Rev. R. C. W. Cleveland.
Irene Edna Elder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Ahrens was born in Berlin township at the home of her grandmother, Mrs. Betts, on July 5, 1894 and had lived at Lost Nation all her life suddenly passed away at the home of her parents Thursday night at 11:40 September 25, 1913 being 19 years, 2 months and 2? days of age and [sic]
She finished high school in Lost Nation in the year of 1911, later the following year she graduated from the high school at Nevada Mo. For the past summer she attended summer school at Cedar Falls. She was ambitious and was making use of the talents given her and seemingly had a career mapped out for her to which she was working. She was baptized on January 9, 1910 and received into the membership of the Methodist Episcopal church May 29, 1910. She taught her class in the Sunday school last Sunday thus again is the circle of our membership broken and again the public schools loses one of its alumni.
The sudden demise resulting from acute Bright's disease came as a great shock in the home and community and like the withering blight that death is our dear one was quickly gone. We are tempted to reason why. This we know, God is good and frail as we are we bow in submission and say "Some day we will understand."
To the remaining sister, mother and father and circle of relatives and friends we commend the sympathy and love of Jesus who wept at the grave of Lazarus. May we like Martha and Mary know that "I am the resurrection and the life."
Funeral services were conducted from the Union church, Lost Nation, Sunday afternoon at 1:30 by her pastor C. W. Cleveland who preached a comforting message, "My Father's House."
Pall bearers were her class mates Darrell Cresay, Lloyd Edleman, George Watzel, Harold Devine, Frank Myatt, Harry Rutenbeck. Flower girls were Winnie Bullard, Elsie Edleman, Holly Scott, Letha Myatt, Elsie McConaughy, Blanche langham, Edna Schultz. Singing was by the four lady teachers Misses Richter, Jones, Manning and Schultz with Clara Sanderson pianist. Mrs Dawe sang the sacred solo "Come Unto Me."
The immense crowd more than could be seated in the church filed tearfully by to look for the last time upon the face of their friend.
Among her class mates who came from a distance to attend the funeral were Harry Rutenbeck of Iowa City, Elsie Edleman from Cedar Falls, Lloyd Edleman from Mt. Vernon, George Matzel from Manilla, also a large number of friends from Calamus, Grand Mound, Wheatland, Oxford Junction and other surrounding towns.