PETERSEN, Annie 1880-1928

PETERSEN, DIEKEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/26/2015 at 07:16:42

Mrs. H. P. Petersen Takes Her Life While Despondent

Brooding Over Her Failing Health Attributed As Cause For Her Act

Condition Improving The Past Few Weeks

Had Been in Good Health Up to a Short Time Ago When Taken to Hospital for Treatment

This community was shocked beyond measure when it became known last Monday evening that Mrs. Henry Petersen, wife of one of Grundy county's best known farmers, had taken her life while presumably despondent over her physical condition.

Until a few months ago Mrs. Petersen's health had always been of the best, and being naturally of a cheerful and contented nature the future looked bright and happy for her. Suddenly and almost without warning an ailment developed that was afterwards diagnosed as diabetes and she was taken to a Des Moines hospital for treatment. After a few weeks spent at the hospital she was brought home and her condition has since showed hopeful indications of improvement.

On Monday of this week her mother, Mrs. D. J. Dieken, of this city, spent the day at the Petersen home northeast of town a few miles. About five o'clock that afternoon Mrs. Petersen left her mother and younger daughter, Henrietta, and said she was going to feed the chickens. She had been cheerful all day and there was nothing said or done to indicate she intended to take her life. After she had been gone a few minutes her mother and daughter started to look for her. Not finding her promptly, Mr. Petersen and their son, Ubbie, were called from a near neighbor's where they were helping in the harvest field, and the search continued for a short time when the husband found her in an upstairs bedroom where she had locked the door. She had obtained an old razor and with it had severed one of her jugular veins and had also cut both wrists with the razor and bled to death.

Mrs. Petersen was forty-seven years of age. She leaves to mourn her departure besides her husband, one son, Ubbie, who is married and lives on the home place, and two daughters, Emma and Henrietta, at home; also a large number of relatives including her aged mother and several brothers and sisters.

Short services were held this afternoon at one o'clock at the home and at two o'clock from the New Presbyterian church of which she was a member, Rev. K. J. Stratemeier officiating.

The heartfelt sympathy of a wide circle of friends and neighbors will be extended to the bereaved family and relatives over this calamity.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 26 July 1928, pg 1

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Obituary of Mrs. Henry Petersen

Mrs. Henry Petersen, nee Annie Dieken, was born September 18, 1880, in Colfax township, Grundy county, Iowa, being the second oldest child and oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dieke J. Dieken.

February 25, 1904, she was joined in marriage to Henry Petersen, this union being blessed with three children. Very early she professed her faith as a Christian and joined the Holland Presbyterian church. In 1912 she became a member of the German Presbyterian church of Grundy Center. She was also a member of the Ladies' Aid. Her earnestness as well as her attractive disposition won her a host of friends and made everyone like her.

A short time ago she was overtaken by a treacherous sickness which affected body and mind. Death occurred July 23, 1928, at the age of 47 years, 9 months and 5 days.

She leaves to mourn her departure her aged mother, Mrs. Dieke J. Dieken; her grief-stricken husband, Henry P. Petersen; three children, Ubbie, Emma and Henrietta; two sisters, Mrs. W. H. Bakker and Mrs. Sam Schmidt; two brothers, J. D. Dieken and D. D. Dieken, and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Thursday, July 26. At the house Rev. H. F. Sinning, a former pastor and close friend of the family, spoke words of comfort. At the German Presbyterian church Rev. J. E. Drake, D. D., and Rev. K. J. Stratemeier, Th. D., preached sermons in both languages. Interment took place at the Colfax Presbyterian cemetery. A mass of flowers, the large funeral procession, and so many other expressions of sympathy bespoke the esteem in which the deceased was held.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 2 August 1928, pg 1