PRIMUS, Ben 1866-1950

PRIMUS, BODE, SIEMENS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/9/2015 at 15:25:37

Ben Primus Died Wednesday

Ben Primus who had resided on the Primus farm 2 1/2 miles west and a mile south of Wellsburg all of his life died at 3 o'clock Wednesday morning at his home. He had been in failing health for a long time and the past three months he was confined to his bed. Old age and complications were the cause of his death. He was 84 years old.

Surviving are the wife, seven sons and two daughters.

Funeral services will be held at the First Christian Reformed church west of Wellsburg Saturday afternoon. Burial will be in the cemetery adjoining the church.

A more complete account of Mr. Primus' life will appear in the next issue of The Register.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 7 December 1950, pg 1

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Large Attendance At Primus Funeral

Funeral services were held for Ben Primus last Saturday. There was a short service at the home and later at the First Christian Reformed church west of Wellsburg. Burial was in the cemetery adjoining the church. Because of the absence of the regular pastor, Rev. Joseph VandeKieft, the services were conducted by Rev. Henry Zwaanstra, pastor of the Chr. Reformed church at Lincoln Center.

Charter Member of Church
Mr. Primus was the only charter member of the First Christian Reformed church living at the time of his death. He was a member of the consistory of this church for 40 years, serving as deacon and elder. He was a constant attendant and faithful worker in this church until ill health kept him confined to his home.

Was Native of Grundy County
Mr. Primus was a native of Grundy county. He was born on a Shiloh township farm southwest of Wellsburg and resided there during the 84 years of his lifetime. There are very few people living who have been residents of Grundy county for so long a time.

Among Earliest of Grundy Pioneers
The Primus family were among the earliest of Grundy county pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Hildert Primus, parents of Ben Primus, came here from Illinois where they lived for a short time after coming from Germany. They acquired a farm in Shiloh township which has remained in the family ever since. There were five children from the Hildert Primus family. Only one of them is now living. The five children were Claus Primus, Mrs. A. G. Geerdes, Ben, Mrs. T. Isebrands, Yankton, S.D., Mrs. J. B. Janssen. Mrs. Isebrands is now the only one from the family now living. She is 90 years old.

Was Twice Married
Mr. Primus was twice married. His first wife was Annie Bode. She died shortly after the birth of the first child, Annie. Three years later, in 1892, Mr. Primus and Helen Siemens of Wright county were married.

Surviving are the wife, seven sons and two daughters. The sons are Henry, Will, Claus, John, George, Marion and Lee. John is at Las Vegas, New Mexico; Lee is an attorney in Minneapolis; Marion is employed in the Wellsburg bank. The other sons are farmers residing near here. The daughters are Annie who is at home and Mrs. Howard Minium, Des Moines.

Casket bearers at the last rites were: Peter B. Eekhoff, Fred Eiten, Dick Freese, Christ Christians, Ben Nederhoff and John Reents. Music was by Arthur Cooper, Alfred Eiten, Harvey Eiten and Robert Cooper. Mrs. Arthur Cooper was organist. Flower attendants were Mrs. Ben Nederhoff and Mrs. Ben Riekena.

Relatives From Distance At Funeral--
Those from a distance attending the services were: Mr. and Mrs. John Primus, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Primus, Richard Lee and Brent, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Minium, Beatrice and Sarah, Mrs. Warren Mulder and John Henry Primus, Grand Rapids, Mich., Rev. John Siemens, Minneapolis, Minn., Will Siemens, Lake Crystal, Minn., Mr. Henry Isebrands, Little Rock, Ia., Mrs. Bert Schreur, George and John Schreur, Mr. and Mrs. Will Schreur, Herman Schreur, Mr. and Mrs. George Eckhoff, Mr. Henry Eckhoff, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Assink and Mr. and Mrs. Albert VanderPloeg, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Boyd Eckhoff, all of Kanawaha, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. Bert Siemens, and Mr. and Mrs. Renus Siemens of Goldfield, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. John Roskamp and Miss Gertrude Bode from Cedar Falls.

Mrs. Elizabeth Riant, Waterloo, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Vos, Mrs. Peter Limburg, Henry Krominga, Austinville, Mrs. Grace Krominga of Parkersburg, Kay Wynn of Des Moines, Jake Primus, Green Mountain, Henry and George Janssen, Eldora, Wayne Janssen, Hubbard, Mr. and Mrs. Lane VanRees, Mr. and Mrs. Rienk Zylstra, Sully, Ia., Rev. and Mrs. Peter H. Eckhoff of Ackley. Also many from Steamboat Rock and the nearby communities.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 14 December 1950, pg 14