John Fank 1839-1925

FANK, STREVELER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/19/2011 at 01:12:05

John Fank Dead
John Fank died at his home on East Lawn Monday evening at 11:30 after a brief illness. Death was caused from heart trouble. He was taken ill Saturday night. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 from St. Patrick’s church, Rev. C. P. Conway officiating. Interment will be made in the Catholic cemetery. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, September 30, 1925)

Emmet County Pioneer Buried Last Thursday
John Fank Was a Resident of Emmet County for a Quarter of a Century
Funeral services for John Fank, a resident of Emmet county for a quarter of a century, were held Thursday morning at 10:00 o’clock at the Catholic church, Rev. C. P. Conway officiating. The body was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery. Mr. Fank had been in failing health for the past three years but prior to his death on Tuesday of last week had been confined to his bed for only two days. His old age and the weakened condition of his body hastened his death and although he battled hard, death finally overcame him. John Fank was July 24, 1839, in Luxumburg, Germany. He was the oldest of eleven children, having nine brothers and one sister, all of whom have passed away. He spent the first fifty years of his life in his native country where he followed the farming occupation. He was united in marriage in 1886 to Miss Elizabeth Streveler, also of Luxumburg. Thirteen children were born to this happy couple, one having died in infancy. The living children are: Baltas, John, Peter, Nick, Charles, Kate, Lucy, Mary, Rae, Elizabeth, Josephine and Barbara. In 1889 he came with his family to the United States and settled in Hamilton county, Iowa, where they reside for seven years when they came to Emmet county and settled on a farm near Gruver. Later they moved from Gruver to a farm near Dolliver. They resided there until 1910 when Mr. Fank retired from the farm and move to Estherville and prepared a home for his family on East Lawn where he spent his declining years. During his twenty-five years residence in Emmet county Mr. Fank became widely known to people in this community. His life has been one of service and helpfulness and he was a man whom it was a pleasure to know. He was always fair and square in his business dealings and thought of others before himself. He had high principles and in patterning his life in accordance with his principles he gave an example that was well worth following. His influence in his home was only for good and he sought always to bring his children up in accordance with his faith and creed. Besides his wife and children, fifty-two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren survive Mr. Fank. The sympathy of a wide circle of friends is extended the sorrowing family and relatives. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, October 7, 1925)