KELSEN, Emma J. 1883-1973

KELSEN, TOBIAS, KLINGER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/5/2019 at 17:14:52

Rites Thursday For Emma J. Kelsen

Private committal and memorial services were held last Thursday, January 18th for Mrs. Hans (Emma Jane) Kelsen, 89. Mrs. Kelsen passed away at 4:10 Tuesday morning, Jan. 16 at the Allen Home in Waterloo. She had been a patient at the Allen Hospital and Home since last October.

Rev. Robert Hoover, Jr. officiated at the private committal services which were held at the Elmwood Cemetery, Dike last Thursday morning at 11:30 a.m.

The memorial services were held at the Dike United Methodist Church at 1:30 p.m. The Reverends Robert and Joan Hoover, Jr. officiated. Mrs. Alice Mayer presided at the organ. The Parrott and Wood Service of Waterloo were in charge of the arrangements.

Emma Jane Tobias was born Jan. 30, 1883, the daughter of David M. and Barbra Jane Klinger Tobias at Klinger, Iowa (a town founded and named for her father). She married Hans Kelsen in 1905. Mr. Kelsen bought a General Store from his father-in-law in 1910 which they operated until 1953. They had operated the general business until Dec. of 1951 when they sold the grocery department to Godfrey Juel; selling the dry goods department to the Juels on Jan. 11, 1953. They observed their 50th wedding anniversary in 1955. Mr. Kelsen passed away on Oct. 3, 1958.

In addition to helping in the Kelsen's Store she always enjoyed planting and caring for a vegetable garden, even last summer she was able to do so and canned some of the produce.

Mrs. Kelsen was the eldest member of the Dike United Methodist Church where she was an active worker and helper for many years. Had she lived till Jan. 30th she would of observed her 90th birthday, which she so wanted to do.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Raymond (Johanne) Dalbey of 305 42nd, Des Moines, Iowa, 50312 and Mrs. Edmund (Genevieve) Jablonski of 939 So. Wisconsin, Villa Park, Ill. and one sister, Mrs. John Schultz of Alberta, Canada. Other survivors include six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, David C. Kelsen; two sisters, Mrs. Cora (Percy) Lyon and Mrs. Tillie (Ben) Scott and two brothers, John Tobias and Elmer P. Tobias.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 25 January 1973, pg 6