ENGELKES, Swantje 1870-1940

ENGELKES, MEESTER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 3/10/2017 at 17:17:21

Mrs. B. M. Engelkes Dies; Lifetime Resident of County

Mrs. B. M. Engelkes died last Friday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ben Wickers, in Parkersburg. She had been in failing health the past four years due to hardening of the nerves and diabetes. Had she lived two days longer she would have been 70 years old. She was born in Grundy county and resided here continually until in her later years she went to make her home with her daughter at Parkersburg.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at one o'clock at the Wickers home and at two o'clock at the Pleasant Valley Reformed church with Rev. A. Linnemann officiating. He was assisted by Rev. D. Siemsen from Parkersburg. Burial was made in the cemetery adjoining the church.

Obituary
The following obituary of Mrs. Engelkes was prepared by the family:
Mrs. Berend M. Engelkes, nee Swantje Meester, daughter of the deceased Henry and Trena Meester, was born Oct. 6, 1870, in Grundy county, on the farm in the same section where she spent all of her life, except the last two years.

She was united in marriage to Berend Engelkes on April 23, 1892. Her marriage union was blessed with eight children, all of whom are living. Her husband preceded her in death 18 years ago; also one sister.

She was a devout Christian wife and mother, a faithful member of the Pleasant Valley Reformed church. She attended divine services very regularly, and came even after her body grew weak and feeble. Four years ago her health began failing, and she left the farm. Since January 1939 she made her home with her daughter in Parkersburg. On Oct. 4th at 9 o'clock in the evening she was called to her eternal home at the age of 69 years, 11 months and 28 days. Had she lived until Sunday she would have reached her 70th birthday. The cause of her death was hardening of the nerves, and diabetes.

She leaves to mourn four sons and four daughters: Engelke of Fern; Henry of Holland; Mrs. Fannie Winterboer of Everly, Ia.; Mrs. Trena Wickers of Parkersburg; Mrs. Anna Meyer of Parkersburg; Jake of Holland; Omke of Dike, and Mrs. Katherine Tammen of Parkersburg; also 12 grandchildren, 5 brothers, 3 sisters, besides other relatives and hosts of friends.

Looking back at her radiant victorious life we can not sorrow at her passing, but can only rejoice with her that she has gone to an even closer and more glorious comradeship with the Christ she loved and served so long.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 10 October 1940, pg 10