FINKE, John A. 1871-1943

FINKE, HARMS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/21/2015 at 17:22:15

Funeral Services for John A. Finke Held Saturday

John A. Finke, 71, died at his home four miles northeast of Wellsburg, Wednesday, August 25. Death was due to heart trouble and dropsy, and he had been in failing health since February. Rev. William Landsiedel officiated at the services which were held at the St. Paul's Lutheran church Saturday afternoon. Rev. Landsiedel made two addresses: one in German using as his text Isaiah 38:17; the other in English from Psalm 119:92.

The casket-bearers were George H. Geerdes, Louie Kaiser, Claus Harrenstein, Bert Harrenstein, Henry J. Smit and Heiko T. Neessen. Burial was in the Lutheran church cemetery.

Obituary
John August Finke was born November 17, 1871 in New York City, N.Y. His father preceded him in death in Germany. In 1881, when a boy 10 years of age, he moved with his mother to Iowa, making their home first on a farm in Shiloh township where the deceased received his youthful and religious training and grew to manhood. He was joined in holy wedlock with Kate Harms March 1, 1898, establishing their home first on a farm one mile west of Fern, where they lived for nine years, and then moved on their own farm in Colfax township, where he lived until his departure. The Lord blessed their union with 10 children, two of whom preceded their father in death; Louise in infancy (21 days old), and Johnny at the age of 22 years, in 1936.

The deceased, always favored with good health and blessed with a strong constitution, suddenly became ill in the latter part of February of this year from which time his health has been failing and his strength gradually waning. In God's providential wisdom a school of suffering became for him a preparation to the knowledge and conviction of saving grace. It was a delight for the writer of his obituary to call on him during the last three weeks of his most severe suffering to pray and plead with him for comfort and strengthening of faith to the mercy seat of Him, Who is nigh unto a broken heart and saveth such that are of a contrite spirit. The deceased when asked, "do you believe that the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed you from all your sins and that His atoning sacrifice is your only salvation?" he testified with an affirmative "Yes, Jesus is my Saviour." So when the hour approached--after all medical skill and the best care of loving hands seemed no longer of any avail--he was prepared to depart for the spiritual, heavenly home, reserved for all the Saints in glory, saying with Paul, "for we know if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

His earthly pilgrimage came to a blessed termination when in compassion and love the Lord over life and death released him from all suffering on Wednesday, August 25, at 2:45 p.m. He reached the age of 71 years, 9 months and 8 days. By the grace of God the deceased and his faithful companion were privileged to share together life's joys and sorrows for 45 years, 5 months and 24 days.

Besides the sorrow-stricken widow, 2 sons, 6 daughters, and 11 grandchildren survive him and mourn his untimely loss. They are: Sophie, Mrs. William Stickfort of Stout; Martha, Mrs. Carl Heinrich, Chris, Lena, Mrs. Gratus Ross, and Ebe, all of Wellsburg; Minnie, Mrs. George Schmidt of Grundy Center; Carrie, Mrs. Claus Muller of Dike; and Edna, at home. One adopted son, Charley Marquardt of Ackley; one sister, Mrs. Harm Kramer of Allison; two half-sisters; Mrs. Joe Kelly, of Cedar Rapids, and Mrs. M. Paul of Coleman, South Dak.; two half-brothers, Conrad Wiegman of Dumont and William Wiegman of Parkersburg, mourn his departure, and a host of other relatives and friends. Also the St. Paul's Lutheran church, of which he has been a faithful member observe for him a kind and blessed memory.

May I urge all bereaved hearts to seek divine comfort in joining the prophet of old, saying, "Come, let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and He will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up."

TIRED
The cross is heavy, Lord,
And I am weak to bear it.
But I have faith,
For Thou has promised, Lord,
That Thou wilt surely share it.

The way is rough, my God!
And I am so weary!
But I have faith;
For Thou the same hast trod
Alone, in paths most dreary.

Make short the journey, Lord!
For I am, oh, so lonely;
And I have faith
That one beneath the sword,
For whom my heart yearns only.

These eyes shall greet once more,
In a fairer land than this,
Where sight, not faith,
Will reign, and, partings o'er,
Love may have its perfect bliss.

--The Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 1 September 1943