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KRUSE, Margret 1843-1935

KRUSE, HASSEBROEK, REINTS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/8/2011 at 10:47:44

End comes For Mrs. Konrad Kruse At Advanced Age

Mrs. Konrad Kruse died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. J. Abels, in Colfax township Friday morning at one o'clock from old age. She was 92 years old. She was taken to her bed six weeks ago and grew weaker daily until the end came.

Funeral services were held at the home at 1:30 o'clock Monday and later at the Colfax township Presbyterian church. Rev. K. J. Stratemeier had charge of the services. He was assisted by Rev. J. E. Drake. Burial was in the family lot in the Drake church cemetery.

Obituary

Mrs. Konrad Kruse, whose maiden name was Margret Hassebroek, was born in Oldersum, Eastfriesland, Germany, Aug. 28, 1843. She died Aug. 23, 1935, at Holland, Iowa, in the home of her youngest daughter, Carrie, the wife of John J. Abels. Had she lived five days more she would have reached the age of 92 years. At the age of 13 she came to America with her parents, who made their new home near German Valley, Ill.

Her first marriage was with Siecka Reints, of which two sons, Sweer S. of Forreston, Ill., and William Reints of Willow Lakes, S. Dak., survive their parents.

By a second marriage to Konrad Kruse eight children were born, all of whom survive. They are: Rev. Aike C. Kruse, Kesley; Mrs. Margret Frerichs, Grundy Center; Mrs. Annie Abels, Holland; Henry Kruse, Holland; Mrs. Fannie Bakker, Grundy Center; Mrs. Hattie Dieken, of Grundy Center; Mrs. Carrie Abels, Holland; John K. Kruse, Grundy Center.

Grandma Kruse, as she was favorably known, was a woman of sterling qualities, having gone through many hardships in her younger days, surviving all of her brothers and sisters as well as two husbands. She was a devoted charter member of the German Presbyterian church of Grundy Center. She leaves a host of friends besides a large number of relatives to mourn her loss. She lived and died in the firm faith of Jesus as her personal Savior.

Tribute from Son to Mother

The following 'Mother's Tribute" was read by her son, Rev. A. C. Kruse, of Kesley, Iowa, at a family gathering the day following the death of Mrs. Konrad Kruse.

Ps. 27:10, "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up."

"OUR HERITAGE"
(At Mother's bier, by a grateful son).

Our Mother has brought us together here today; we have met often together with her and for her, but not like this time. Her eyes are now closed in death; her lifeless form lies beside us awaiting arrival of the minister and undertaker to perform the last Christian rites over her. Six of her chosen grandsons will act as her pall bearers and all the others of her kin and descendants will follow her to her last resting place. Resting place: let us pause for a moment here because we are reminded of our mother's last hours in life when she sought rest upon her bed but could not find it. Oh, how she dropped her head upon the pillow and soon raised it again because she could not find rest. The night was peaceful and there was no disturbance in the room; it was all within where the struggle betwixt life and death was raging. At last the moment came when the heart ceased to beat and rest came to the tortured body and soul. "For so he giveth his beloved sleep." Ps. 127:2.

Mother's old rocking chair will henceforth be vacant, her voice will no longer be heard. Her ears that were so eager to pick up some word from any of us, her offspring, are now totally deaf; indeed, all her organs have ceased to function and all members of her body have completely relaxed. Mother has gone to rest.

For a number of years we have celebrated her birthday by holding our family reunion. The inspiration of this gathering was always in Mother's presence. She cannot be with us this year because she has gone to her rest. "My father and my mother forsake me." This Bible fact and truth stares us in the face today; they have both passed to their eternal reward. With their passing a generation has passed; there are no more of the first family of Kruses of our line and Mother's demise marks the passing of the first generation of Hassebroeks in America of whom we are the descendants. Their ancestors across the waters must have been a sturdy generation or else how could our parents have lived so long and well without much care of doctors and nurses. A sturdy stock indeed. From now on we, their sons and daughters, are the generation that is growing old. Soon our eyes may grow dim, our ears hard of hearing and our members feeble. Our children will soon refer to us as grandpa and grandma. We are then assuming the place of the next passing generation, all of which gives us ample reason for meditation and improvement.

What then are some of the lessons our parents have taught us? What ??? we may emulate and habits we may follow?

1. Since we have already referred to their sturdy physique, may we not learn from them the art of taking care of our bodies? They lived close to nature and observed, perhaps unconsciously, nature's laws. They possessed little of what we term modern conveniences; their mode of living was simple. They worked hard, but they ate and slept well. They belonged to what is generally known as pioneers of the prairie states.

2. Our parents also belonged to that sturdy generation of Western settlers whose aim and purpose was and always has been to make a living from themselves. They may not have known the meaning of such terms as thrift, frugality and economy, but they put into practice the very laws and principles from which these terms sprang. They did not belong to that class of people which claims the world or society or any other institution owes them a living. Our parents earned their living by hard work and saving.

3. They were also homebuilders. Practically all of that generation which has now passed believed in and strived for owning their homes. Not by inheritance, but by being builders themselves. Not carpenters that built houses, but companions in life, joined together to raise a family. Our mother nursed ten of us and she must have fed us well for we all grew up to manhood and womanhood. Cooking for such a family may not have produced many dainty dishes, but it required large loaves of bread and a kettle filled with some vegetable daily. Nothing grew stale under Mother's hand when we were all at home.

4. Education and religion played an important part in the life of Mother's generation. Their social functions and neighborhood activities were necessarily limited in scope because of lack of modern conveniences such as autos, radios, telephones and the like; they were just plain visits. The parents would go to the neighbor's house and that would bring the youngsters over to our house. The next time this order was reversed. Did we have fun? Only those who once have been young can understand.

Our schools may not have been up to the grades as they are now kept, but there was learning nevertheless. Sunday school was made obligatory by our parents; they in turn were influenced if not compelled by the pastor to send their children to the house of God. At home daily devotions were the rule at least once a day with prayer before each meal. At night each child was taught to pray before entering dreamland.

5. Kindness, respect for old age, honesty, and keeping peace were considered real virtues. The parents were our superiors, of course, the school teacher had authority over us while we were entrusted to her care. Did she find it necessary to exercise discipline over us, our parents would not shield us against punishment. "You must obey your teacher," was the only reply they would give to our complaints. Our parents urged us to be peaceful children of the neighborhood and not invite or court trouble. This spirit of peacefulness has prevailed with our aged mother until her earthly career was ended.

As children under God we owe our very existence to our good old-fashioned parents: "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."

6. We would fail to give due honor to our departed parents if we like boatmen simply rested upon our oars and did not bend every effort to press forward and pave the way for a better generation to follow us. Each generation must push forward to new goals and achievements. Our parents showed us the way of progress by coming to a new world and living entirely different than their ancestors were accustomed to; in what direction then lies the progress yet to be attained by this and succeeding generations: Civilization cannot remain static. If we would remain true to our parents' example we too must find new ways of adventure; if we cannot find these ways of progress and achievement in better living must always be the goal. Upon this principle our parents launched out into the deep. They had firm faith in God and human destiny.

7. A gracious overruling hand of Divine Providence was constantly recognized by our parents. In this they trusted and dared to go forward. As their offspring we too must recognize that unseen guiding hand over us and before us. We need not fear the hardships lying in our path of duty: If the Lord be for us, who can be against us?

Our dear Mother attained an age of ninety-two years, lacking only five days; but she did not stop there, her faith prompted her to commit her soul into the hand of an ever-present God. She was satisfied with her allotment of years spent here below; she now looked for a city which hath foundation, whose Builder and Maker is God. Heb. 11:10.

It behooves us to place our trust in this same God and take courage. Both our father and mother are beckoning us to follow their lead, even as they followed Christ, who wills to be Savior of us all.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 29 August 1935


 

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