JONAS FANBERG 1847 - 1935

FANBERG, HOLM, BERGSTRAND, HALVARSON, CARLSON, BAUMAN

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 5/4/2024 at 16:12:36

JONAS FANBERG IS CLAIMED BY DEATH

Took Homestead in Ida Co. in Early Seventies. Charter member of Church

Jonas Fanberg, a former well known resident of Ida county, died Thursday, 28 March 1935 in Kerkhoven, Minnesota in his 89th year. Funeral services were held last Saturday afternoon at Willmar, Minnesota after which the remains were brought to Ida county and a public service was held on Sunday afternoon at the Arthur Baptist church in charge of Rev. C. R. Osbeck of Willmar, assisted by Rev. E. J. Nordlander and Gordon Carlson of Kiron. Interment was made in the Baptist cemetery.

Jonas Fanberg was born 14 June 1847 in Helgum, Guxas, Angermanland, Sweden. He came to the United States in July 1868. For a short time he was on the railroad in Iowa and later worked on the construction of the capitol building in Des Moines. In the early seventies we find the young man in the new Swedish settlement in Kiron and here he was converted and baptized on 5 March 1871. It was sometime after this date that Mr. Fanberg and Olaf Gradin took up their homesteads in Ida county and began to build their future homes. In 1880 the humble home on the rich prairie was ready for the reception of a bride and on 24 Dec 1880 he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Holm who in answer to the summons of love had come all the way from Sweden to say "yes, I do." To this union 9 children were born, Elizabeth and David, who died in infancy; Anna, Mrs. A. P. Bergstrand, who died in Aug. 1920; Beda, Mrs. Erick Halvarson; Zebulon; Elvera, Mrs. Frank Carlson; Nimrod; Esther, died in 1902, and Eleonora, now Mrs. E. J. Bauman. Mrs. Fanberg lived only two years after they had celebrated their silver anniversary, passing to her reward in September 1907.

The Fanbergs were charter members of the Arthur Baptist church, organized in 1885. Mr. Fanberg was the first treasurer of the church and also one of its first trustees. And for 24 years he held many important offices in the church and in the community. In 1909 they moved to Kerkhoven, Minnesota and transferred their membership to the Swedish Baptist church there. Since 1928 Mr. Fanberg made his home in Willmar, Minnesota and was a member of the Baptist church there.

He passed away after a lingering illness 28 March 1935 in the good and ripe age of 87 years, 9 months ands 14 days. Beside the two sons and three daughters Mr. Fanberg leaves to mourn and to miss him 34 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, many other relatives, and among them a brother, P. E. Fanberg, in Ida Grove and a very large circle of friends.

In Mr. Fanberg’s passing a long and useful life comes to its close. A strong and sturdy pioneer, a dependable leader, of sterling character and vision, a faithful Christian and good citizen, a constructive builder, he contributed largely to the founding and development of two new communities, with its homes, churches and schools, never shirking the responsibility of organized community life and Christian missionary activities.

The last fifteen years were spent in comparative retirement, part of this time in feebleness incident to age, all this time tenderly cared for by his loved ones, the greatest share taken by Mrs. Halvarson.

4 April 1935 Ida Grove paper
From Glenn Gustafson