RIEBKES, Dena 1889-1939

RIEBKES, CHRISTIANS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/7/2012 at 20:14:34

Mrs. John Riebkes, 70, died at her home in Wellsburg at 5 o'clock Sunday morning. She had been in ill health for the past year and suffered a heart attack several weeks ago. Saturday she suffered a paralytic stroke.

Mrs. Riebkes was born Dena Christians in Iowa on January 31, 1869. On December 4, 1889, she was married to John Riebkes. The couple farmed northwest of here until 1926 when they moved to Wellsburg. Riebkes died May 18, 1930. They were the parents of 11 children, nine of whom survive. They are: John, north of Wellsburg, Raymond, Tena and Grace at home, Mrs. Fred G. Getting, near Iowa Falls, Mrs. Jake Miller of Ackley, Mrs. Andrew Miller, north of Wellsburg, Mrs. Hannes Janssen of Geneva and Mrs. Henry C. Nederhoff, southeast of Wellsburg.

Funeral services were held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the home, later at the Wellsburg Reformed church in charge of the pastor, Rev. William Landsiedel. Burial was in the Eastfriesland church cemetery northwest of Wellsburg.

--Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 8 February 1939

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Funeral Services For Mrs. John Riebkes

Funeral services for Mrs. John Riebkes were held Wednesday afternoon at the home and at the Wellsburg Reformed Church with the Rev. Wm. Landsiedel in charge, assisted by the Rev. H. Johnson, of Ackley. The Rev. Mr. Landsiedel chose as his sermon text: Psalm 116-15.

The funeral was attended by a large number who came to pay their final respects to a friend who never faltered in friendship and neighborliness, and one who will be greatly missed in the circle of acquaintances. Interment was made in the cemetery lot in the Westfriesland Presbyterian Cemetery near Ackley, beside the body of her husband.

Mrs. John Riebkes, nee Christians, was born January 31, 1869, in Hardin county, Iowa, where she spent her youth and grew to womanhood. She was joined in holy wedlock with John Riebkes December 4, 1889. The Lord blessed their union with (11) eleven children, three sons and eight daughters, two of whom preceded the mother in death. The deceased spent most of her life on the farm near Ackley until she retired with her husband and family in 1926, making her home in Wellsburg where she desired to spend the eve of her life in well deserved rest and peace.

Though her health was impaired when she first moved to Wellsburg which caused the weakening of her heart, and though she received the best of care and medical attention the Lord had planned to summon her to her heavenly home, last Sunday, February 5, 1939, at 4 a.m.

To visitors with her she responded to the assurance of her salvation in Jesus Christ her Savior and was prepared to meet her end if the Lord had willed it so. She reached the age of 70 years and 4 days. Two sons and seven daughters survive her, and mourn her untimely departure; also 24 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. The sons are John Riebkes of Ackley and Raymond at home. The daughters are Mrs. Fred Getting of Ackley; Tena and Grace at home; Mrs. Jake Miller of Morrison; Mrs. Andrew Miller of Wellsburg; Mrs. Hannes Jannsse of Geneva and Mrs. Henry Nederhoff of Wellsburg, yet in the providence of God her husband had unexpectedly preceded her in death May 19, 1930, but the Lord has sustained her in her loss by the faithful support of her children. After the departure of her beloved companion the deceased seemed to regain in health until about three weeks ago she became afflicted with her old malady.

The congregation of which she has been a faithful member since 1928 together with a host of friends, also lament her loss sorely and pray that the God of all comfort may assuage the wounded hearts and substitute their irreparable loss.

--Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 15 February 1939