HARMS, John Sr. 1873-1956

HARMS, KOCH

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/24/2015 at 09:20:40

John Harms, Sr., Lifelong Resident Buried Saturday

John Harms, Sr., 83, died last Thursday at 2:15 a.m. in the Grundy County Memorial hospital of complications arising from his advanced age.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Saturday in the home and later in St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church northeast of Wellsburg, Rev. Ernest A. Slottag in charge. Burial was in the church cemetery.

The church choir, accompanied by organist Joyce Huisman, furnished music for the service. Mrs. Henry Maas and Mrs. Chris Muller Jr., were flower attendants.

Casketbearers were Alvin I. Harms, Harold H. Harms, Herman F. Koch, Alfred W. Harms, Carl Giesking and Chris H. Koch.

John Harms was born January 9, 1873, in Colfax township, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ibeling Harms. He resided in Grundy county all his life.

On March 11, 1897, he was united in marriage to Charlotte Sophia Koch. This union was blessed with nine children, two of whom preceded him in death.

Mr. Harms was a lifelong member of St. Paul's church, and had been active in years past on the church council and various committees of the congregation.

He was baptized on May 4, 1873, and was confirmed on Mar. 25, 1888.

Mr. and Mrs. Harms were privileged to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on March 11, 1947. Mrs. Harms passed away on March 17, 1955, at the Rainsbarger Convalescent Home in Eldora at the age of 74.

Children surviving are I. J. Harms, Wellsburg; Wm. F. Harms, Iowa Falls; John H. Harms, Ackley; Minnie, Mrs. Ole Olson of Goldfield; George E. Harms, Holland; Charlotte, Mrs. George Getting of Wellsburg; Lydia, Mrs. Frank Meyeraan of Wellsburg; 27 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. There are also two brothers, Ibe Harms Sr. and Willie Harms, both of Wellsburg, and one sister, Mrs. John Finke of Wellsburg.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 8 November 1956, pg 16