AUKES, Dirk E. 1849-1928

AUKES

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/27/2015 at 07:39:46

D. E. Aukes, Early Grundy Resident, Died Last Sunday

Death Came After Long Illness At Home Of Daughter In Allison

Mr. Aukes Came To County 65 Yrs. Ago

Was Man of Wide Acquaintance and a Leader in His Community

D. E. Aukes, early resident of German township in this county, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Dick Tellinghuisen, at Allison, last Sunday. Death came following an illness covering a period of nearly three years. He suffered a stroke of paralysis a little over three years ago and from that time on until the end came he gradually lost his former physical vigor and during much of the past year he was almost completely helpless.

Funeral services were held at the Evangelical church in Pleasant Valley township yesterday afternoon. The church was not nearly large enough to accommodate old neighbors and friends who came to pay their last respects to one with whom they had been intimately associated for many years. Rev. Kraft, from Ackley, and Rev. Molte, from Cedar Falls, officiated at the funeral services. The former delivered the sermon in English and the latter in German.

Mr. Aukes was born in Germany. He was 79 years and 3 months old at the time of his death. He came to this country sixty-five years ago and acquired a farm in German township which he made his home continually until two years ago when he was compelled to leave so that his daughter could help to take care of him during his weakened physical condition. Mr. Aukes early appreciated the value of Grundy county land and as fast as his resources permitted he acquired additional land. He owned four farms in the north part of Grundy county and two farms in Butler county. This real estate was largely distributed among his children two years ago when the former rugged pioneer began to realize that he was coming close to the end of life's journey.

Mr. Aukes' wife died twenty-one years ago. For many years following her death one or more of his daughters helped to make home life comfortable for him. When his daughters married, he still remained at the old home and lived there alone until illness came upon him. There were twelve children born to this family and all grew to maturity. A son, Helmut, died while he was in the service during the late war. A daughter, Mrs. Henry Koch, passed away about ten years ago. The other ten children survive the father.

Of the surviving children, seven are sons and three are daughters. The sons are Sam, Ben, John, Dick, Reinhart, Elso and Fred. All but the last named were at the funeral. The sons served as pallbearers. The daughters are Mrs. Dick Tellinghuisen, Mrs. Mary Reihers, and Mrs. Margaret Westendorp, all from Butler county.

Few men in this county, if any, wielded a wider influence in their locality than Mr. Aukes. He was recognized as a leader in his community almost from the time he located there until illness began to sap his vitality. While he never held a public office aside from justice of the peace in his township, he sponsored the candidacies of many friends from the north part of the county, several of whom met with political success. For many years he was an outstanding figure in county and district conventions of his party and he never was backward about expressing his sentiments as to candidates or political policies.

When the history of Grundy county is written the name of Mr. Aukes will find a place in it as one of the leading and influential men during the county's early development period.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 20 September 1928, pg 1