FRANKEN, Emma 1865-1954

FRANKEN, STEINMEYER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/6/2017 at 13:54:08

Mrs. C. G. Franken Dies At Hospital

Mrs. C. G. Franken, who had been a resident of Grundy county about eighty years, died at the Grundy Memorial Hospital at two o'clock Saturday morning. Death was due to advanced age and complications. She had been a patient at the hospital two weeks when the end came. Had she lived until next May, she would have been 90 years old.

Was Native of Illinois
Mrs. Franken's maiden name was Emma Steinmeyer. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Steinmeyer. She was born on a farm near Mt. Morris, Ill. When she was a young girl she came with the other members of the family to Grundy county. The family consisted of the parents, 5 sons and 4 daughters. They located on a farm 5 miles north of Grundy Center that later, for many years, was known as the Rabenberg farm.

Was Married 72 Years Ago
Emma Steinmeyer and Christ G. Franken were married May 30, 1882. The ceremony was performed by Rev. VanderLas in the Colfax Presbyterian church. During the first 22 years of their married life they resided on a farm a mile and a half south of the Colfax church. 50 years ago they moved to their farm across the road to the south from the Colfax church which remained their home up to the time of their death. Mr. Franken died in July, 1936.

Mr. and Mrs. Franken were the parents of five children. Two of them died in infancy and two daughters died in 1952. They were Mrs. Jake Stahl and Mrs. Andrew Stahl. The surviving daughter, Mrs. John Stahl, lives on the home farm. There are 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Provided for 5 Foster Children
Aside from their own family, Mr. and Mrs. Franken took into their home five foster children, who were given the same love and care as others of their children. The foster children are Rev. August Kramer, Kamrar; Rev. Henry Kramer, Bristol, South Dakota; Melvin Fletcher, Cedar Falls; John Fletcher, Holland, and Mrs. Herman Stahl, Dike.

Was An Ardent Church Worker
Since her marriage Mrs. Franken was a member of the Colfax Presbyterian church. She was a devoted church worker and for many years she served as a Sunday school teacher. She was generously sympathetic and was always ready to extend a helping hand to those who were in need.

Services Tuesday Afternoon
Funeral services were held at the home at 12:30 on Tuesday and at one o'clock in the Colfax Presbyterian church. Burial was in the family lot in the cemetery adjoining the church. The services were conducted by Rev. Wiert Eekhoff. There was a very large attendance at the services.

Casket bearers were Alvin and Vernon Stahl, Calvin Stahl, Hiriam Dieken, Alvin Lutterman and Benjamin Groote.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 9 December 1954, pg 21