HARRENSTEIN, Jake P. 1896-1978

HARRENSTEIN, ZIEGLER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/22/2019 at 05:43:54

Jake Harrenstein Took Pride As A Builder

Jake Harrenstein of Smith Center, Kansas, passed away the early part of this month. Below is the obituary that was in the local paper in Smith Center, Kansas. Many from this area will remember him as he grew up in the Holland-Wellsburg area.

Jacob Peter (Jake) Harrenstein, son of Ben and Altje Harrenstein, was born Aug. 18, 1896, at Wellsburg, Iowa. He was baptized Oct. 4, 1896, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wellsburg and later professed his faith through confirmation.

He served his country in World War I, entering the Army at Fort Dodge, Iowa, and receiving military training at Camp Demming, N.M. He served with the 87th Division in France and Germany.

On Nov. 26, 1925, he was united in marriage with Elsie Marguerite Ziegler at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Rockwell, Iowa, with Rev. W. F. Mueller officiating. They established their home in Kansas City, Mo., where he was a building contractor.

In 1949 his construction business brought him to Smith County and he supervised the construction of St. John Lutheran Church at Athol. Other projects in the area included extensive remodeling of the First Methodist Church in Smith Center, the First St. John Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) in Kensington, as well as many other buildings in this area.

Jake's pride in his work and his skills were well known to the surrounding communities. His construction activities continued until illness forced him into retirement in 1973.

After retirement, Jake's condition worsened and in November 1975 he entered the Veterans Hospital in Grand Island, Neb., where he was a patient eight months, then transferred to the extended care unit of the Veterans Hospital in Topeka to reside until his death July 3, 1978, at the age of 81 years, 10 months and 15 days.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, one sister, and two half-brothers.

He is survived by his wife Elsie of the home in Smith Center; sons Marvin and wife Shirley of Kansas City, Mo., and Howard and wife Leona of Coral Gables, Fla.; grandchildren Debbie, Tim, Pamela, Ken, Marsha, Carol and Lisa; sisters Ora Meyer of Stout, Iowa, Jennie Boike of Waterloo, Iowa, and Elsie Kruger of Holland, Iowa; brother Ed Harrenstein of Grundy Center, Iowa; a host of nieces and nephews and countless friends.

Rev. Robert H. Carter officiated services at St. John Lutheran Church, Athol, at 10 a.m. Friday, July 7. The St. John men's choir sang "How Great Thou Art" and "A Closer Walk With Thee," with Hazel Gibson the accompanist.

Honorary casket bearers were Bill Engelke, Richard Beckmann, Fred Borgmann, Bill Kirchhoff, Dick Kirchhoff, and Walter Bose. Casket bearers were Tim Harrenstein, Louis D. Kuhlmann, Eugene Kirchhoff, Fred Beckmann, Ken Harrenstein, Victor Kirchhoff, Maynard Sasse, and Tom Bose. Interment was at St. John Cemetery, Athol.

Those coming from Iowa to attend memorial services were Mr. and Mrs. Herman Boike, Waterloo; Mrs. Oscar Meyer, Stout; Mr. and Mrs. Willis Stickfort and family, Reinbeck; Mrs. Klaas C. Kruger and Clarice, Holland; and Mrs. Richard Lamfers and Christine, Grundy Center.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 27 July 1978, pg 8