KAISER, John 1844-1930

KAISER, GOLDENSTEIN, SAATHOFF

Posted By: Burdette (email)
Date: 8/29/2010 at 22:14:04

Large Crowd Honors John Kaiser in Death

85-Year-Old Resident Laid to Rest After Eventful Career

Last Thursday, March 13th, at 11:50--almost midnight, at his home about three and one-half miles northeast of Wellsburg, occurred the death of John Johnson Kaiser.

John Kaiser was a resident of this vicinity for twenty-four years, coming direct to Grundy county from Germany in 1890 settling near Buck Grove. He was born in Osteeler, Meeland, Ostfriesland, on September 6th, 1844. When the Prussians took Hanover in 1866, he was with the army of Hanover, but enrolled in the Prussian army later and participated in the war of 1870 against France.

During the world war, Mr. Kaiser, who knew the lay of the land around Verdun, often declared that the German crown prince would never take the fort at Verdun. He knew how strong the position was in 1870 when the Prussian army took it--and how it had been strengthened later by the French. And as will be remembered, Mr. Kaiser was right in his prediction--Verdun was too strong to be taken.

Mr. Kaiser brought with him to America his wife, Wibke Goldenstein, whom he wedded in 1872, after his honorable discharge from the German army.

The couple were blessed with nine children, six of whom are now dead. The three living are John Kaiser of Rockford, Iowa, Mrs. Dirk Steen of Buffalo Center, Iowa, and Louie Kaiser of Wellsburg vicinity.

His first wife died in 1901. In 1903 he was married to Rixte Saathoff, who survives him.

Mr. Kaiser reached the ripe age of 85 years, six months and seven days.

The cause of death was dropsical affections, with complications, which caused his death after an illness of about four days.

The death certificate gives the cause of death as influenza, catarrhal bronchitis, kidney disease, cardiac dilatation and dropsy.

The funeral was held Monday at 12 o'clock at the home, with later services at St. Paul's Lutheran church, northeast of Wellsburg, the pastor, Rev. C. Heinrich, officiating in the German language and Rev. H. C. Bode preaching a short sermon in English.

The pallbearers were Henry R. Schafer, Peter B. Riekena, Joh. DeNeui, Hemmo Deters, Dick Weichers and John J. Beving.

Interment was made in the cemetery at Buck Grove by the side of his first wife.

Among those from abroad who were present at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. John Kaiser, Rockford, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Dirk Steen of Buffalo Center; Mr. and Mrs. George Steen of Buffalo Center; Harm Walters of Buffalo Center; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Avers of Comfrey, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. John Saathoff and son of Delft, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Saathoff, Garner, Ia.; Mr. and Mrs. Ausbrand Valentine, Jeffers, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Dick Boyken and son of Woden, Iowa; Mrs. H. M. Freerks and sons Henry and Oliver of Shell Rock, Ia.; Jurgen Saathoff, Shell Rock, Iowa; Mrs. Ralph Freese of Ackley, Iowa; Henry Ehmen of Dike, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. John Seehausen of Fern, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Harm Knock, Mr. and Mrs. John Etjen, John Eilers and son Fred, Mr. and Mrs. George Johnson of Parkersburg; Mr. and Mrs. Harm Flessner, Mr. and Mrs. John Uhlenhopp of Aplington, Iowa.

Card of Thanks

We wish to return our sincere thanks to the friends and neighbors for their kindly service during the sickness and death of our beloved husband and father. Also for the beautiful flowers. Mrs. John Kaiser and Family

--Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 19 March 1930

[correction by Burdette: Meeland should be Neuland and John Johnson Kaiser should be Jann Janssen Kaiser)