Hans Laveen

LAVEEN, JUNKINS

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 8/22/2015 at 10:19:16

PROMINENT KIRON CITIZEN CALLED.

Hans Laveen, Resident of Near Kiron Since 1881, Suddenly Stricken With Heart Failure Monday.

LONG IDENTIFIED WITH CHURCH.

Was 59 Years of Age and Leaves Wife and One Son and One Daughter to Mourn His Death.
Kiron, Dec. 1–Special-On early Monday morning, November 23d, the news was sent out throughout the locality that Mr. Hans Laveen had passed away at 4:30.

The previous evening he attended the union temperance meeting held at the Baptist church in Kiron, and many who saw him and others who greeted him could scarcely believe the sad news when it was learned. Mr. Laveen has been troubled the past summer with heart ailment and had been warned by his doctor to cease from manual labor. Apparently this ailment caused his sudden death, without a warning to himself or his family. The death of this most respected and esteemed neighbor and citizen has cast a gloom over the entire neighborhood.

Hans Laveen was born in Hassell, Sweden, June 28, 1854. He was united in marriage to his surviving wife Dec. 25, 1873, and they came to America in 1879, locating in Andover, Ill., where they resided for two years. They came to this locality and settled on the homestead north of Kiron.

Mr. Laveen had attained the age of 59 years, 4 months and 22 days. He is mourned by his devoted wife, one son, Albert, of Woodbury county; one daughter, Mr.s Anna Junkins, of Salt Lake City, Utah; three sisters, Mrs. Cecelia Berman, of Cushing, Minn.; Mrs. Andrew Bergstrim, of this locality; and Mrs. Emma Magnuson, of Arthur; one brother, Jonas Englund, in Hayes township, Ida county, and many other relatives and a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was a loyal citizen and neighbor, accommodating and helpful and as a husband and father most devoted and kind and ever alert to the welfare of his children and esteemed wife.

While every class of citizen mourns the death of Mr. Laveen, his demise is perhaps most deeply regretted, outside the circle of his family and the closest friends, by the Baptist church, of which he was a charter member and one of the pillars of loyal supporters. At all the times he was active in the interests and advancement of the church and its work. His esteem and standing was indicated by the various important office held by him, which duties he ably and conscientiously discharged. For many years he was Sunday school superintendent, chairman of the church, leader of the Young People’s society and the choir leader. In his death the church has sustained a keen loss and valued member.

Mr. Laveen was a man of great industry and of the strictest fairness and integrity, and one who was always willing to assume his share of responsibility in any undertaking, and ready to perform his part in any work that had for its object the permanent interests of the community. His circle of friends had steadily widened as the years have gone by until it was almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance, and that many of his warmest friends were those who had known him the longest is indicative of the fact that his life has ever been governed by those principles which command the respect, confidence and good will of all.

The funeral took place on Friday afternoon. There was a short service at the home, from whence the remains were taken to the church, where the funeral service was conducted. A large concourse of relatives and friends had gathered and it was impossible for the gathering to all secure room in the church. The impressive and solemn sermon was preached by the pastor, Rev. A. Carlson, and was followed by a short speech by Rev. N. Morton, pastor of the Baptist church at Kiron. At the close of the service the large gathering filed past the casket for a last view upon the face of their neighbor and friend, and very few were the eyes that turned away that were not filled with tears. Burial was made in the Kiron cemetery. The floral offering was indeed a large and beautiful one, a tribute from the church, his Sunday school class, the Lorean Sewing circle, the Young People’s society and the Baracca class and friends and relatives.

While he has been summoned to the blessed home in the skies and his place has been made vacant in the home, locality, and in the church, he still lives and will still continue to for many years survive in the hearts of his friends and loved ones. Farewll, Brother Laveen, we shall meet you bye and bye.

Source: The Denison Review, Denison, Crawford, Ia., 02 Dec 1914.