BODE, Hilkea 1841-1943

BODE, AMMERMAN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/23/2015 at 17:37:35

Mrs. C. Bode Dies At Age 102

Mrs. C. Bode, better known as "Grandma" Bode, died suddenly at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Peter Limburg, in Austinville, Monday morning. She was 102 years old. She had been in her usual good health and had eaten a light breakfast shortly before the end came without warning. Only a few days before she rode to the home of one of her daughters at Alexandria, Iowa, for a short visit.

She was as active at 102 as the average person thirty years younger. Her mind remained clear and she wrote letters almost every day. She was an ardent reader during her long declining years. She lived alone in Austinville and did her own housework until after she passed her 100th birthday. The past year and a half she made her home with the Limburg family.

Mrs. Bode was the wife of a minister and two of her sons followed in their father's footsteps. They were the late Rev. W. Bode and Rev. H. C. Bode from Kalamazoo, Mich.

Funeral services were held at the Peter Limburg home in Austinville at one o'clock on Wednesday and later at the Christian Reformed church at Austinville. Rev. Tebben from Parkersburg conducted the services.

Mrs. Bode was born Hilkea Ammerman at Bunde, Ostfriesland, Germany, January 12, 1941[sic], and came to America when 20. She married Cornelius Bode in 1867 at Ridott, Stephenson county, Illinois. Her husband died in 1917 at Kanawha, Iowa, where he was then pastor of the Christian Reformed church.

Surviving are two daughters and three sons: Mrs. J. C. Arends of Alexander; Mrs. Peter Limburg, Austinville; Rev. H. C. Bode, Kalamazoo, Mich.; R. C. Bode, Austinville, and John Bode, Kesley, Iowa.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 19 August 1943, pg 1

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Mrs. Cornelius Bode

Hilkea Ammerman was born at Bunde, Eastfriesland, Germany, January 12, 1841, and migrated to America with her parents at the age of 20, and lived in the vicinity of Ridott, Ill. The family was seven weeks on the ocean, coming across on a sail boat. Frequently her father and brothers had to help repair the sails. In the year 1867 she was united in marriage to Cornelius Bode of Ridott, Ill., and with him shared the hardships as well as joys of preparing for the ministry. For over 38 years she might be mistress of the manse at Niekerk, Mich., Harrison, S. Dak., Ackley and Kanawha, Iowa. While at Ackley their youngest daughter, Lillian died at the age of 12 years. Her husband, the Rev. C. Bode, was called home in 1917, and since that time she resided in Austinville, where she lived alone until two years ago, when she came to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. P. Limburg and family.

Grandma Bode enjoyed the fellowship of the saints, taking an active interest in the kingdom of God and spending much time in meditating upon God's word. Her favorite psalm was 116, which psalm she sang the last Sunday afternoon. "I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications, because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live." She continually interceded for the church, family, and the grandsons and the great-grandsons serving in the armed forces of our country. She was a ready writer, and her correspondence was extensive. "At evening it shall be light" may be applied to her.

Her birthdays were outstanding days in her life, when relatives and friends called to extend their congratulations and best wishes. In January she was privileged to celebrate her 102nd birthday. During the century she enjoyed the best of health. On Monday morning, August 16, 1943, her allotted course had expired--death unexpectedly and gently removed her from the family circle.

The Rev. K. Tebben of Parkersburg officiated at the funeral which was conducted from the Austinville Christian Reformed church. His meditation was based on Rev. 14:13. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord--and their works do follow them."

The Rev. Charles Greenfield of the Ackley Christian Reformed church spoke comforting words at the cemetery at which place interment was made.

She is survived by five children: John Bode of Kesley, Dick Bode of Austinville, Rev. Henry C. Bode of Kalamazoo, Mich., Mrs. Peter Limburg of Austinville, and Mrs. John Arends of Alexander; 36 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren also survive. One son, Dr. Wm. Bode of Clara City, Minn., passed away in 1941.

--The Ackley World Journal (Ackley, Iowa), 26 August 1943, pg 3