NEESSEN, Walter T. 1867-1932

NEESSEN, RAH

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/30/2015 at 10:10:19

W. T. Neessen Dies Suddenly At Home In Wellsburg

End Comes Shortly After He Fell Asleep Early Saturday Morning; Intestinal Disturbance The Cause

Walter T. Neessen, successful business man and one of the county's outstanding political leaders, died at his home in Wellsburg early Saturday morning. For a number of weeks he had suffered from intestinal trouble that resulted in gas in the stomach. He was in considerable difficulty Friday evening and for a number of hours his local physician, Dr. Fauth from Wellsburg, and Dr. Caldwell administered relief. Shortly after midnight he felt wholly relieved and told his family that he believed he could go to sleep and he advised them all to go to bed. He was asleep but 20 minutes when he gave one gasp and was gone. His wife was by his side and awoke when he passed away.

The news of Mr. Neessen's sudden death came as a shock to the family and to the many friends in all parts of Grundy county and in the vicinity of Steamboat Rock, where he was raised.

While but little past his prime, Mr. Neessen's life was marked with years of useful activity. He grew up in the mercantile business and made that the major part of his life's work. His activities went much beyond his private business. He was a leader in the civic and political life of his community. He served as member of the town council for several years and later as mayor. While in or out of office his influence was always in the interest of community betterment. He rendered loyal service as a private in the ranks and distinguished himself as a leader. He was strong for teamwork and was --unreadable-- than his share of the load.

Mr. Neessen took a very active and profound interest in politics and for the past twelve years was chairman of the democratic county central committee. He was in the midst of the campaign for the election of his favorite candidate for the presidency when he was suddenly stricken.

Five weeks ago he submitted to an operation at the hospital at Marshalltown. He recovered very quickly from this operation and both he and his family believed that his former good health would soon be re-established and that there were many years of peace and contentment ahead.

Funeral services were held at the Reformed church in Wellsburg Tuesday afternoon. The local pastor, and a personal friend of many years, delivered a touching eulogy in both the German and the English languages at the funeral service. Five hundred neighbors and friends attended the service. Every business house in Wellsburg was closed from one until four in the afternoon. Burial was in the cemetery adjoining the church.

Mr. Neessen was born on a farm near Ackley. He would have been 65 years old the 11th of December. While in infancy his parents moved to Steamboat Rock where they engaged in the mercantile business and where Walter grew to manhood. He was married in 1888 to Closka Rah. For ten years following their marriage they lived in Steamboat Rock. In 1898 they came to Wellsburg. Mr. Neessen was employed as clerk in a store at Wellsburg until 1904 when he opened up a general store in partnership with his brother Arthur. He took over his brother's interest in their fast growing business and operated the store until 1923. Since disposing of his store he devoted his time to looking after his business interests and to enjoying himself at hunting and fishing and traveling considerably about the country with his wife.

The surviving relatives are the wife, two sons, Ben from Wellsburg and Earl from Tipton, Iowa. There are three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. There are two surviving brothers, Arthur from Lake Crystal, Minn., and Louis from Winthrop, Minn. The three sisters are Mrs. Jennie Reeves from Minneapolis, Mrs. Joe Sachtlie from Wellsburg and Mrs. George Meier from Grundy Center.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 3 November 1932, pg 1

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