RUTER, Claus 1865-1934

RUTER, EEKHOFF

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 12/24/2016 at 17:18:27

Immense Throng Attends Ruter Funeral Ceremonies

The news of the killing of Mrs. Claus Ruter and the serious injury of Mr. Ruter, when their car was struck by a gravel truck at the Pine Creek corner, southwest of Wellsburg, went over the wires from home to home throughout Grundy county last Friday afternoon. The two were highly esteemed and old-time residents of the county, and both were connected with many of the other well-known families of the county. In a short time, hundreds of cars were on the way to the scene of the accident.

The Ruter car was going south on the way to the home of a daughter living near Pine Creek school. Just as the car came onto the Steamboat Rock road, a loaded gravel truck driven by H. Roemling struck it just behind the engine. The truck and car were apparently carried by their combined momentum to the southeast, and both went over the bank into the creekbed, just south of the bridge to the east of the intersection. The truck driver was not seriously injured, the impact with the car seeming to have been taken by the heavy frame of the loaded truck. The news of the death of Mr. Ruter came about four hours later.

The coroner after investigation of the circumstances decided that no inquest would be necessary.

The funeral of the two deceased persons was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Will Janssen and at the Bode church west of Wellsburg on Monday, August 6th and was attended by one of the largest congregations ever seen in the history of the church. From all over Iowa came relatives and friends to pay their respects to the worthy couple whose sudden tragic passing shocked and grieved all who knew them.

The pall bearers for Mr. Ruter were the other members of the consistory of the First Christian Reformed church, among whom the honored deceased had served as deacon for thirty-three years. They were Ben Primus, Obo Haupt, Boyd Eekhoff, John Eekhoff, John Bakker and Ed Christians.

Bearers of Mrs. Ruter's casket were six young men, including Oddie Wilts, Julius Heikens, John Wubbens, Ben Riekena, Fred Gross and Dick W. Riekena.

The two caskets were buried in the mass of floral offerings.

Only a portion of the large audience could be accommodated in the church, and the last viewing of the departed following the sermons made the total time of the funeral about five hours in duration.

Rev. H. C. Bode presided over the ceremonies of the two beloved members of his flock, assisted by Rev. J. Theilken, Rev. C. H. Bode, Rev. Zissler, Rev. Sweiter and Rev. Folkema.

John Primus and Ben Janssen sang several selections.

Obituary
Friday, August 3, 1934, the Heavenly Father called Mr. and Mrs. Claas Ruter to their Eternal home. Very abruptly and tragically death was met in an automobile accident which occurred five miles southwest of Wellsburg. Their thoughts directed towards doing something for their daughter, Mrs. Andrew Janssen and family, during the present harvest duties, were shortly turned to the Lord of the harvest and the silent reaper gathered their souls into the heavenly garner above. Mrs. Ruter was killed instantly and Mr. Ruter died about four hours later, at the home of another daughter, Mrs. Will Janssen. Thus, "The lights are out from these mansions of clay; The curtains are drawn, For the dweller's away; They silently slipped o'er the threshold by night, To make their abode in the City of Light."

Mr. Ruter was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, on January 21, 1865, and moved with his parents to Shiloh township, Grundy county, Iowa, in 1866 where he lived until his death at the age of 69 years, 6 months, 13 days. Mrs. Ruter, nee Janna Eekhoff, was born October 13, 1872, in Stephenson county, Illinois, and moved with her parents to Shiloh township at the age of 12 years, where she made her home until her death. She reached the age of 61 years, 9 months, 21 days.

Mr. and Mrs. Ruter were united in marriage on March 26, 1899, making their home on the farm, two miles west and one mile south of Wellsburg until February 1922, when they moved to Wellsburg. Their marriage was blessed by the birth of four daughters who survive to mourn their death; namely, Mrs. Andrew Janssen, Flora; Mrs. Will Janssen, Ada; Mrs. Henry Primus, Gertrude; and Mrs. Joe Eilers, Pearl. Others who survive them are 14 grandchildren, the sisters of Mr. Ruter, Mrs. John Geerdes, one who preceded him in death, Mrs. Hai Geerdes, and the sisters and brothers of Mrs. Ruter, Mrs. John Eekhoff, Mrs. John Ruter, Mrs. Anko Janssen, Mrs. Ben Ruter, Mrs. Adolf Deters, Mrs. John M. Bakker, Mr. Boyd Eekhoff, Mr. Peter Eekhoff, Mr. Henry Eekhoff.

Mr. and Mrs. Ruter strikingly remind us of Zacharias and Elizabeth, of whom it is said, "And they were both righteous before God." And without their home they were to be found active in the courts of the Lord. Their accustomed place was filled twice upon each Sabbath, while he served faithfully as a deacon for 33 years in the First Christian Reformed church of Wellsburg. She was a faithful member of the Ladies Aid for 17 years. And thus in their own quiet way, they dwelt in and about the Church of God. Their lives spoke loudly of the indwelling spirit of God. Though the church has been bereaved of two members, yet we rejoice in the thought these two previous souls might accompany one another to their mansions prepared above.

The funeral took place on Monday, the 6th of August, and was without doubt the largest ever held here. Rev. H. C. Bode presided. Rev. G. Theilken preached, basing his sermon on John 14, 1 and 2, "Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions." Rev. C. H. Bode had as his text Phil. 1, 21, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." John Primus and Ben Jansen sang at the house, church and grave. Rev. Zissler offered prayer as did also Rev. Swieter and Folkema closed with prayer at the grave.

--The Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 8 August 1934, pg 1