HARKEN, Claus I. 1875-1923

HARKEN, SCHAAP

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/2/2017 at 07:44:17

Obituary

Claus I. Harken

God in His infinite wisdom has taken from our midst our friend and brother, Mr. Claus I. Harken, and called him to the mansions of rest. The departed was born April 14th, 1875, at Nachusa, Lee county, Illinois. His parents moved in 1880 from Illinois to Iowa and settled on a farm southeast of Austinville; there he grew to manhood. In 1903 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Schaap. This union was blessed with five children, three boys and two girls. He resided on a farm east of Ackley. On October 11 he suffered from an attack of appendicitis; this developed into such a severe case, that an operation was deemed necessary. He was taken to the hospital at Hampton and an operation performed. All that medical skill could do, and that helping hands could offer, was done, but all to no avail; pertonitis and inflammation of the bowels developed, and after severe suffering, born in patience, he succumbed--he died on Friday afternoon at five o'clock, November 2, 1923, in the faith of His Lord. He reached the age of 48 years, six months.

Since 1917, he was an active member of the Westfriesland church and served as trustee and during the last year as elder. Previous to 1917, he was a member of the Christian Reformed church near Austinville. He was a loyal member and fulfilled his duties conscientiously. He was in truth, a servant of his Lord.

There remain to mourn his death his bereaved wife, his children, Isbrant, Jake, William, Grace and Anna; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. I. K. Harken, his brothers, Will, Raymond, Ahme, Ubbe, Enno, John, Isbrant, and his sisters, Mrs. Venno Jansson, Mrs. Riekus Riekena, Mrs. Ben Stubbe, Mrs. Rudolf Abbas, and Anna, besides a large number of relatives and friends.

The funeral was held Nov. 6th. Many relatives and friends gathered to pay this last tribute to his earthly remains, which were entrusted to mother earth in the cemetery of Westfriesland church, in the hope and faith of the final resurrection. Revs. Plescher, Bonte, and Seibold assisted the local pastor. May God bless the bereaved, and may it again remind us of our final day.

--Ackley World-Journal (Ackley, Iowa), 22 November 1923, pg 8