Herman Steensen

STEENSEN

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 8/20/2015 at 19:33:04

DEATH CLOSES LIFE'S PAGE

Mr. Herman Steensen, Respected German Citizen, Passes Away on Friday Afternoon.

BORN IN GERMANY IN YEAR 1839

A Citizen of Crawford County for Thirty-six Years, He was Well Known and Liked by All.

The death of Mr. Herman Steensen closes life's page upon one who had earned the respect, esteem and confidence of all who knew him. While for a number of months a sufferer, he was always patient and true and kindly and the home circle is indeed desolated. In the death of Mr. Steensen, which occurred on Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock Crawford county loses one of its oldest and most respected citizens. While Mr. Steensen had been in poor health for some time, it was not thought by his immediate family and friends that his condition was precarious. Friday morning he seemed to be in his usual good health and expressed the desire of consulting with his old-time friend, M. E. Jones. Mr. Jones stopped at the Steensen home Friday noon on his way to dinner and they talked over some business matters in which Mr. Steensen was interested. He partook of a hearty dinner and appeared to be in the best of health. After dinner he went into the bedroom to visit his daughter, Mrs. Christena Thiesen, who has been ill at the Steensen home several weeks. After a few words of cheer to his ill daughter he had occasion to go to the kitchen and while there was stricken and a few moments later passed away.

Herman Steensen was born Dec. 2, 1839, at Pellworn, Schleswig, Germany. For a number of years he followed the carpenter trade and later became a sailor. On July 1, 1861, he came to Clinton, Iowa, near which place he worked as a farm hand for a few years, later moving to Clinton, where he was employed in the furniture bus ness. He was united in marriage to Miss Christena Sonksen in 1870, and in 1877 he, with his wife, came to Crawford county, where he has since resided, first locating on a farm in Goodrich township, which he still owns. When Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Miller removed to their new home at Los Angeles, Cali., about twelve years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Steensen moved to Denison and occupied the Miller home on Sweet street. Mrs. Steensen departed this life in October, 1911, and since that time Mr. Steensen has spent the greater portion of the time visiting his children.

He leaves to mourn his death five children, namely: Paul and Edward, both of Goodrich township Mrs. Anna Sonksen, of Big Sandy, Mont. Mrs. Martha Adams, of Hanover township, and Mrs. Christena Thiesen, of Omaha.
Mr. Steensen's kind and genial disposition made friends for life wherever he went. For thirty-six years he was an honored and respected citizen of Crawford county. He was stalwart in his convictions, kindly and affectionate in his friendships, generous, kind hearted and faithful, and regarded by all as a strong, able and reliable man.

Funeral services were held at the Lutheran church, of which he was a member, on Tuesday afternoon at 1 o'clock, the Rev. Frese officiating, after which interment was made in Oakland cemetery beside his beloved wife.

Source: The Denison Review, Denison, Crawford, IA., 12 Feb 1913.