DIEKMAN, Mieke1855-1941

DIEKMAN, TERFEHN, MEYER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/5/2013 at 21:18:45

Mrs. Siebe Diekman is Laid to Rest Tuesday Afternoon

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon for Mrs. Siebe Diekman, who passed away last Friday night at the home of her son, Fred Terfehn, at the advanced age of 86 years, after a lingering illness.

Services were in charge of Rev. William Landsiedel at the Wellsburg Reformed church, with burial in the cemetery at St. Paul's Lutheran church, northeast of Wellsburg.

Mrs. Diekman was born in Germany Oct. 13, 1855 and came to America when she was 17 years old. She spent the remainder of her life in and around Wellsburg. On Oct. 1, 1878 she married Fred Terfehn. He died ten years later and she married Siebe Diekman, who died in March 1920.

Mrs. Diekman is survived by ten children. They are: George Diekman of Aplington; Dick Diekman of Dumont, Harm Diekman of Parkersburg; Mrs. Fred Getting of Grundy Center; Mrs. Will Conradi of Dike; Henry and Fred Terfehn and Mrs. Herman Harrenstein of Wellsburg; Mrs. Eggo Stohr of South Dakota and Mrs. John Brower of Geneva. A daughter, Mrs. Claus Harrenstein, preceded her in death.

Text of the sermon was Philippians 1:21-23 and the services were conducted in the German and English language.

The pallbearers were Anton Terfehn, Alfred Brower, Wallace Getting, Elmer Diekman, Dennis Harrenstein and Almore Terfehn.

Obituary
Mrs. Meike Anna Diekman, nee Meyer, was born October 13, 1854 at Westerhauderfehn, Eastfriesland, Germany. In early infancy she was baptised by Rev. J. Nelner. When 6 years of age her parents moved to Voellnerfehn where she received religious instruction, and was confirmed by Rev. J. Hafermann. In 1878, at the age of 24 years she came to America, the country of her choice. She was married twice and was first joined in holy wedlock with Aeilt Terfehn with whom she had 6 children. After 11 years of this happy union her husband preceded her in death in 1889. Her second marriage was consummated with Siebe Diekman on August 18, 1891. God blessed this union with 5 children. They spent the longest period of their life together on the farm in the vicinity of Wellsburg. In 1917 they retired, making their home in Wellsburg.

When she became 14 years of age Mrs. Diekman was obliged to work out for other people learning faithfully to trust in the guidance of the Lord who will provide for the fatherless and homeless. This has been her constant faith until she terminated her earthly pilgrimage.

For the past 2 1/2 years she had been of ill health, making her home alternately with some of her children. Her given lot was one of many trials and sorrows, nevertheless her will resigned to God's holy, just and righteous will. Her favored song she learned at the consecration of her confirmation always afforded her the most comfort in her declining years and during her days of illness:
God's will is always true and kind
And righteously abiding.
He plans my life, yea, every day
I will not move when chiding.
He is my God, He knows my need;
He will provide, protect me;
I always will confide Him.

By the grace of God she was prepared for the inevitable step which every mortal faces, and according to her fervent desire the Lord released her from her physical suffering to enter eternal joy while at the home of her son, Fred Terfehn, on Friday, October 3, 1941, at 9 o'clock p.m. She had reached the age of 86 years, 11 months and 20 days.

Besides her two husbands, one daughter, Mrs. Claus Harrenstein, preceded her in death. Her departure is mourned by her surviving 5 sons and 4 daughters: Fred Terfehn of Wellsburg; Maggie, Mrs. Eggo Stoehr, of Gary, S.D.; Anna, Mrs. John Brower of Geneva; Henry Terfehn of Wellsburg; Alice, Mrs. Herman Harrenstein of Wellsburg; George Diekman of Aplington; Amie, Mrs. Will Conradi of Dike; Dickie Diekman of Dumont; Harm Diekman of Parkersburg; Sarah, Mrs. Fred Getting of Grundy Center, 36 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends also mourn her untimely loss. The Ladies Aid of the Wellsburg Reformed church of which the departed has been a faithful member since 1924 mourn her loss and will preserve for her a kind memory.

--newspaper clipping, source unknown