SPARENBORG, Heere 1851-1931

SPARENBORG, SCHETSBURG

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 6/11/2015 at 06:42:09

H. Sparenborg Dies After Long Illness

He and His Family Came Here From Illinois 40 Years Ago

Heere Sparenborg died at his home in Grundy Center last Saturday following a long illness from cancer.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon. Owing to the frail condition of the wife, an extended service was held at the home with a meditation on Is. 35:10. At the church the pastor, Rev. K. J. Stratemeier, used for his text Heb. 11:16. Mrs. Henry Dirks Jr. from Holland and Mrs. Wm. Kruse sang impressively of the hope of believers and the glory to follow. Burial was made in the cemetery at the Lincoln Center church. The large attendance at the funeral service gave evidence of the esteem in which Mr. Sparenborg was held.

Obituary
(By Rev. K. J. Stratemeier)
The deceased was born at Wirdum, Germany, December 2, 1850. In 1875 he was there united in marriage to Miss Hilka Schetsburg. Together they sailed for America in 1881, settling first near Freeport, Ill. From there they moved in 1890 to Grundy county on a farm in Lincoln township. 22 years ago they moved to Grundy Center, where he was honored and respected as neighbor and citizen.

Up till late Mr. Sparenborg enjoyed good health. A few months ago he felt his sickness coming on and though he was immediately taken under a physician's care, the disease was not stayed and evidences of his failing became more apparent from day to day. Quietly death came in to take him on Saturday, January 3, 1931. He attained the age of 80 years and one month. Deeply mourning his departure are his aged and infirm wife, and eight children (one child of infant years having preceded him in death): C. J. Sparenborg, Georgee of Woden, Iowa, Lottie, Sophie, Harm, Mrs. George Purvis of Marshalltown, Warner and Mrs. E. H. Hendricks, 18 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, many other relatives and a host of friends and neighbors.

By word and deed Mr. Sparenborg always witnessed to a good confession of his Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. May 16, 1909, he was received into the membership of the First German Presbyterian church of Grundy Center. He was faithful unto the end, always bearing the work of the church upon his heart and ready always also in a practical way to help the church and its respective ministers. He served the church for many years as teacher and superintendent of the Sunday school. In 1910 he was elected and ordained an elder of this church and it was only recently that because of advancing years he retired from the active eldership, remaining however an honorary member of the session until his death. With keen interest he also followed the developments in the church at large, posting himself through faithful reading of the church publications. In living faith he has now been translated from the church visible to the church invisible and triumphant.

For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 8 January 1931, pg 12