DEBEER, Fannie 1863-1951

DEBEER, JOHNSON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/9/2017 at 21:26:53

Double Funeral Service For DeBeers

A double funeral service was held beginning at two o'clock Sunday afternoon for Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. DeBeer at the Reformed church in Stout. The service was conducted by the local pastor, Rev. W. J. Hayenga. He was assisted by Rev. Fred Reeverts from Sibley. Burial was in the cemetery at Stout. The attendance at the double service exceeded the seating capacity of the large church.

Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. DeBeer from Stout who had been together constantly during 61 years of married life, remained together in death after but a brief interruption. Mr. DeBeer died at his home Tuesday morning of last week. His wife followed him to the land beyond shortly after one o'clock Thursday morning.

Mrs. DeBeer's death came very peaceably. She had been in failing health during most of the past year and much of that time she was required to remain in bed. She had been bedfast continually several weeks before the end came and she was gradually getting weaker, though she remained conscious until near the end.

Mrs. DeBeer was not told of her husband's death before she rejoined him, nor did she realize that he was seriously ill.

Was Native of Germany
Mrs. DeBeer was born in Germany and she was 88 years old on the 18th day of last February. Her maiden name was Fannie Johnson. At the age of 14 she came to America with her parents. The first few years after they came to this country they resided at Cleveland, Ohio, after which they moved to Freeport, Ill., where Mr. and Mrs. DeBeer were married in 1890. Shortly after their marriage they came to Grundy county. They began housekeeping on a farm a mile west and a half-mile south of Fern. Later they moved to a farm in north Beaver township.

Mr. and Mrs. DeBeer were among the first residents of Stout. They moved there when the railroad came and when the town was incorporated. That was in 1900. They spent the remainder of their lives there and continually took an active interest in the community's civic and church affairs. Mr. DeBeer helped to start the first general store in Stout and remained in business there until eight years ago.

Surviving are five children, three sons and two daughters. The sons are: Harry, Sioux Falls, So. Dak.; John, RFD Grundy Center; Rev. Peter DeBeer, Windom, Minn. The two surviving daughters are Mae DeBeer, postmaster at Stout, who made her home with her parents continually, and Mrs. Jacob Krebs, St. Paul, Minn. There are ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Other surviving relatives are two sisters, Mrs. John Poppen, Stewartville, Minn., and Mrs. E. K. Russman, Little Rock, Iowa.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 16 August 1951, pg 1