RAH, John 1867-1951

RAH, GREESEN, MENNENGA

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/15/2015 at 17:56:06

Rites Saturday For John Rah

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at the First Chr. Reformed church west of Wellsburg for John Rah, who died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. Eekhoff in Steamboat Rock on the morning of May 10th.

Mr. Rah had been in failing health during the past year. He suffered from gangrene and had part of one leg amputated at the Eldora hospital in the hope of effecting a cure. He was in the hospital several weeks before he was taken to the Eekhoff home for care.

The services were conducted by Rev. Joseph VandeKieft, assisted by Student Pastor Duane Ferris from Steamboat Rock. Burial was in the cemetery adjoining the church.

Casketbearers were John Heikens, Ebba Heikens, Ausbrand Jansen, Jake G. Geerdes, Gratus J. Geerdes and Ben E. Nederhoff. Music was by the quartet, Claus G. Primus, Harvey Eiten, Alfred Eiten and Arthur Cooper. Mrs. Arthur Cooper was accompanist.

Lived Here 82 years
Mr. Rah came to Grundy county with his parents 82 years ago and spent the remainder of his life here on a farm.

Obituary
Rev. VandeKieft read the following obituary of Mr. Rah as a part of the funeral service.

John Rah was born June 12th, 1867. His parents were Tjark Rah and Ike Greesen. When John Rah was about two years old the family moved from Freeport, Ill., to Wellsburg, Iowa. They made their home about 2 1/2 miles west of Wellsburg. Besides John, there was one older sister, Claska, who lives to survive her brother.

Mr. Rah was united in holy wedlock to Gertie Mennenga on March 11, 1890. After a few years on farms in the vicinity they made their home on the place of their parents and spent the rest of their lives there. Mrs. Rah was taken from the side of her husband on Nov. 20, 1947. The only survivor of the immediate family of Mr. Rah to mourn his departure is his sister, Mrs. Walter T. Neessen of Wellsburg.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 17 May 1951, pg 10