RIEKENS, Martha 1876-1960

RIEKENS, TJADEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/12/2016 at 07:26:23

Rites on Saturday For Mrs. Riekens, Longtime Resident

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Saturday in the home and later at St. Peter's Evangelical & Reformed church for Mrs. John Riekens, 84, who died Thursday.

Rev. E. H. Buschman officiated at the service. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Leland Luwe provided special vocal music for the funeral service, and Mrs. Allen Spieker was organist. Flower attendants were Mrs. James DeNeui and Mrs. H. L. Luwe.

Casketbearers were John Schoon, John Weichers, James DeNeui, John Heinrich, Bernard Stahl and Thomas Flessner Sr.

Obituary
Mrs. John Riekens, nee Martha Tjaden, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Martin Tjaden, was born August 14, 1876, on a farm in Franklin county near Chapin, Ia. There she received her education in the rural schools and grew to young womanhood.

In 1897 on the 3rd of March she was married to John Riekens of Wellsburg. Immediately after their marriage they moved on a farm in German township. This union was blessed with one daughter, Ella.

They lived on the farm until February of 1928, when they moved to their present home in Wellsburg, due to the ill health of Mr. Riekens, who preceded her in death on Nov. 13, 1936.

Mrs. Riekens was a member of St. Peter's E. and R. Church, northwest of Wellsburg, where she attended as long as her physical condition permitted. Twelve years ago she had the misfortune of falling and breaking her hip; since that time she had been confined to her home. She was patient and resigned to her lot. Nevertheless she retained a vital interest in her church, and always appreciated the pastor's calls and the private devotional services.

On Wednesday, August 31st, she suffered a stroke from which she never fully regained her consciousness. During all of her illness she was tenderly and graciously cared for by her daughter and family. She quietly and peacefully breathed her last on Thursday morning, thus reaching the age of 84 years and 24 days.

She leaves to mourn her departure, her daughter, Ella, Mrs. Ray Toomsen of Wellsburg; a sister, Bertha, Mrs. Henry Schutjer, of Canby, Minn.; one brother, George Tjaden of Winnebago, Minn., and a granddaughter, Vivolyn, Mrs. Bernard Keninger of Spencer, and five great-grandchildren: Patricia, Raymond, Mary, Edward and Martha Keninger; many other relatives and friends.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 15 September 1960, section 3, pg 3