KELSEN, Hans 1879-1958

KELSEN, TOBIAS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/5/2019 at 17:40:16

Hans Kelsen, Many Years Local Booster and Business Man, Dies

Hans Kelsen who was an active figure in the town of Dike for fifty years, died suddenly at his home Friday. While his health had been failing noticeably ever since he suffered a stroke three years ago, he was able to be up and about daily since recovering from the stroke.

The body was taken to the Dahl Funeral Home in Cedar Falls. Services were Monday afternoon at the Dike Methodist church and the services were largely attended. Burial was in the Dike cemetery.

Was An Active Promoter For Town And Community During His Active Lifetime
Probably no other man since the town of Dike was founded had more to do with promoting its growth, than Hans Kelsen. He filled many important posts in the town's government, its schools and in its Community club.

Hans Kelsen, who had been employed in a store at New Hartford, came to Dike in 1901, that was the year after the town started. He became a clerk in a general store here owned by Leibsohn Brothers. In the spring of 1902 he was appointed town clerk and served in that position for three years. He was married in 1905 to Emma J. Tobias. In 1910 he purchased the store owned by his father-in-law, D. M. Tobias. He owned and operated a general store in Dike for upwards of 40 years.

Served 15 Years On School Board
In 1911 Hans Kelsen was one of the chief promoters for a commercial club for the town and one was organized and it has been functioning actively ever since. In 1915 he was elected as a member of the Dike school board and became the boards president during the first year. Dike was just a two room school at the time. Soon thereafter a four room school house was built. Mr. Kelsen was very influential in school consolidation and after a second attempt school consolidation was voted, larger school facilities were added to take care of the increased enrollment. The school has been expanding ever since. He remained as president of the school board until 1928.

In 1923 he was elected mayor of Dike and served one term. During his term of office, ground was purchased for Dikes park which has become one of the beauty spots in the town. He was an active member of the Dike Methodist church. He was president of the Dike Danish Brotherhood up to the time of his death. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and was the first Worshipful Master. He was also a member of the Consistory, the Knight Templars, and the El Kahir Band, Cedar Rapids.

Was Born In Denmark
Hans Kelsen was born in Denmark March 17th, 1889[sic]. Had he lived until next March, he would have been 80 years old. He came to the United States at the age of 15. He first came to Cedar Falls and then to the farm of his uncle, Christ Maag, of Fairfield township. Mr. and Mrs. Kelsen observed their 50th wedding anniversary three years ago.

Surviving are the wife and three children. The children are Mrs. Raymond Dalbey, Des Moines; David C. Kelsen, attorney, Waterloo; and Mrs. Edmund Jabloski, Villa Park, Ill., 6 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 9 October 1958, pg 11