BLANK, Taalkeus (1864-1951)

BLANK, RUITER, AHRENKIEL, QUANDT, USHER, GOODRIDGE, MAUSS

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society (email)
Date: 12/5/2012 at 15:29:04

In Memory Of
Taalkeus Blank
1864 - 1951

Funeral Services At
METHODIST CHURCH
Klemme, Iowa
Tuesday, July 24, 1951 - 2:00 P. M.

REV. E. MORRIS EGELAND, PASTOR

Obituary

TAALKEUS BLANK, age 87 years and 2 months, a resident of Klemme for fifty-six years, died at
his home Friday evening, July 20, 1951.

He was born May 26, 18'64 in Germany, province of Ostfreisland, village of Boen.

In 1885, at the age of 21, Taalkeus Blank and Geeske Ruiter were married in the Reformed
Church at Bunde, Germany.

The following year they migrated to America and settled in Belmond, where Mr. Blank found
employment on the railroad, a new track was being laid between Mason City and Fort Dodge.
His wage of 90c per day, this seemed high compared with the 121/2c per day which he earned
in Germany. A few years later he was promoted to section foreman and transferred to Hayfield,
Iowa.

In 1892, Mr. Blank completed his naturalization papers and became a citizen of the U. S. A.

In 1895, when our town was six years old, Mr. Blank and his family moved to Klemme, and he
was section foreman here until his retirement in 1928.

Shortly after moving to Klemme Mr. Blank purchased an acreage on the west edge of town,
built a home for his family, planted shrubs, shade trees and an orchard. He also built
shelter for a few head of livestock, a flock of chickens and many stands of bees.
And thus, for more than a half century this hospitable home has been an influence for good
in our community.

Taalkeus Blank was a keen thinker, was mechanically inclined, and could do many things well with his hands. He also did his share as a public servant; he sat on the Town Council for
16 years, on the School Board 18 years and he was Superintendent of the Sunday School in the
German Methodist Church for 17 years. Mr. Blank drew the plan for the planting of the
beautiful elm trees in Klemme's Park, 1914.

Taalkeus and Geeske Blank lived together for 65 years, and then the wife, passed away, this
was in June 1950. 'Since then Mr. Blank kept busy at various shop, work, which he enjoyed,
but when death claimed him, he was satisfied and ready and willing to go.

Six of his ten children survive. Four daughters:
Mrs. Agnes Ahrenkiel - Goodell
Mrs. Grace Quandt - Klemme
Mrs. Minnie Usher - Rowan
Miss Marie Blank - Klemme

Two sons:
Ralph Blank - Iowa, Falls
Fred Blank - West Bend

Also two sisters survive:
Mrs. Eva Goodridge - Cedar Rapids
Mrs. Kate Mauss - Rake

Also 16 grand children and 119 great grand children.

CASKET BEARERS

LEROY LAU
TAALKEUS G. AHRENKIEL
TAALKEUS BLANK
FREDERICK BLANK
CARROLL USHER
ERNEST A. GERARDI

Interment on the family lot
Ell Township Cemetery
Klemme, Iowa

Wellemeyer Funeral Service
Klemme, Iowa

source: funeral card