ENGELKES, Omke 1858-1950

ENGELKES, HARMS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/23/2015 at 22:21:56

Omke Engelkes Dies at Aplington

Omke Engelkes, a former county supervisor from Grundy county, died Thursday night at the home of his daughter-in-law, Mrs. George Engelkes, in Aplington. He was 91 years old on the 15th of last November.

A number of months ago he suffered a stroke of paralysis which partly disabled him. He had partly recovered from the stroke when he fell as he was getting out of bed and broke a bone in his hip a few weeks ago. He was taken to a Waterloo hospital for treatment, after which he was taken back home and died a few days later.

Served From Two Supervisor Districts
Omke Engelkes was the only man who ever was elected and served from two different supervisor districts in Grundy county. While living in Stout he was twice elected as county supervisor and represented the Beaver-Fairfield district for six years. Later he moved to Buck Grove in Pleasant Valley township and ran for supervisor for the German-Pleasant Valley district. He was twice elected there and served for six years. He also switched political parties. He was elected on both the democratic and the republican tickets.

Was Born in Germany
Omke Engelkes was born in East Friesland, Germany. At the age of 22 he came to America and to Grundy county. In 1885 he was married to Lena Harms who died in August 1890. The family lived on a farm in Pleasant Valley township where the mother died. Later they moved to Beaver township and then back to Pleasant Valley township. The latter part of his life he made his home with his son George at Aplington. The son died in 1948. His daughter-in-law continued to make a home for him, following his son's death. A daughter, Martha, died in 1920.

Surviving are one son, Engelke, who resides at Sibley. There are 18 grandchildren surviving and 29 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services Monday
Funeral services were held on Monday afternoon at the Presbyterian church at Aplington. The service was conducted by the local pastor. Burial was by the side of the wife in the cemetery adjoining St. Paul's Lutheran church in Shiloh township.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 9 February 1950, pg 13