NEESSEN, Hauke 1848-1923

NEESSEN, SCHAEFER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 3/3/2015 at 17:58:11

Mrs. Hauke Neessen was born on September 5th, 1848, at Kampen, Eastfriesland, Germany and died April 21st, 1923, at the age of 74 years, 7 months, 16 days. She came to America in 1856, when 7 years old, to Freeport, Illinois. The following year she with her oldest brother became motherless and were scattered among strange people.

In 1868 she was united in marriage to Anton Ludwig Neessen, at Freeport, Ill. Two years later, in October, 1870, she moved to Grundy county and established their new home 2 1/2 miles east of Wellsburg on the farm.

In the fall of 1900 she sustained a severe loss in the death of her beloved husband, preceding her in death by 23 years.

Seven children were born to her and her companion, two dying in infancy and a daughter, Mrs. Meint Luepkes, at the age of 37. Her surviving children, Mrs. Hikea Venenga, Mrs. Rika Terfehn, Wolbrecht Neessen, and Mrs. Taletta Loots; fifteen grandchildren, three great-grandchildren besides her three brothers, Heye Schaefer, Marion, South Dakota, John Richt Schaefer, Mountain Lake, Minn., and Henry Schaefer, Wellsburg, Iowa, mourn her loss.

In the spring of 1904 Mrs. Neessen retired from the farm and moved to Wellsburg where she spent the eve of her life.

Twice before since her stay in Wellsburg she had been seriously ill, but recovered again. On April the 10th, she was confined to her bed, which was to indicate that she would never become well again.

During the short period of her great suffering many a fervent prayer she offered to the throne of God, giving testimony of her only comfort in life and death. With this firm conviction, "to be safe in the arms of Jesus," she faced the darkest hour of her last journey.

Since October 30th, 1910, she was a faithful member of the Wellsburg Reformed Church, cherishing the house of worship. Being a devout Christian, her quiet disposition and plain character gave proof of her candour and sincerity and how she confessed the truth in her walks of life. She despised all human boasting and flattery and gloried in the accomplishments of God's grace, by which sinners are saved only.

She always offered her children a welcome home, and she was a solicitous mother never neglected to urge upon them the sentiment of peace toward her end.

The children in return loved their mother and established in their hearts an indelible memory, which time and no enemy shall ever destroy.

Funeral service was held in the Wellsburg Reformed church on Wednesday afternoon, April 25th. The Rev. J. E. Drake and Rev. W. Landsiedel, both officiating, based their sermon on Hebrew 4:9 "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." Interment of the remains was made in the family lot in the cemetery of the Presbyterian church in Colfax township.

The well attended services by her many friends was a deserved expression of sympathy to the mourners for the loss of a true Christian mother.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 3 May 1923, pg 5