MEDAUS, Lena (1876-1953)

MEDAUS, JOERS, SCHLICHTING

Posted By: Karen Mendoza (email)
Date: 2/3/2007 at 18:52:24

Lena Medaus was born April 18, 1876 on a farm near Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa, the third of a family of three daughters born to parents, Joe and Dora Schlichting Juers. Her two sisters, Mrs. William Guth and Mrs. Jake Blumer preceded her in death.
When Mrs. Medaus was two years old, the family moved to the Albert Lange farm in Liberty township, which they then owned. It was here she attended the Liberty township schools and the Liberty Methodist Church and grew to womanhood.
On March 24, 1898, at the age od 22, Lena Juers and Harold Medaus were married at the home of the brides parents. They commenced housekeeping on the Twin Lake township farm which Mr. Medaus owned at the time. After two years of farming, the husband became ill. They purchased a home in Klemme and lived here for two years, after which they moved to the farm again for another five years. Then, because of the continued ill health of Henry Medaus, they retired and moved back to their Klemme home, where they remained.
Having no children of their own, Henry and Lena Medaus adopted a daughter in 1911. The daughter, Blanche, was six years old when she came to live with them, and they were happy to have the little one in their home.
Blanche grew to womanhood and in 1922 became the bride of George Johnson. This couple became parents of three children.
Henry Medaus died in 1929 and a few years later it was necessary for Mrs. Lena Medaus to provide a home for the three grandchildren. At this time, Dwaine was 9, Eugene,6, and emily 3 1/2 years old.
The father, George Johnson, helped in many ways, but the grandmother, Mrs. Lena Medaus assumed the main responsibilty for their care. She mothered these homeless children, kept them clean, took them to church, sent them to school, and provided for them as though they were her own until they were old enough to do for themselves.
The grandchildren, when grown, found mates and established homes of their own, and now, for a number of years, Lena Medaus has live alone. She was a regular attendant at church services, and with her cane would be seen walking to church.
A few weeks ago, she became ill. Her granddaughter, Emily, stayed with her for awhile, until at her request, she was taken to the Good Samaritan Home in Mason City. She was there one day, and was contented. But she laid down for a noon nap and quietly slept on into eternity.
The little folks, whom she mothered, have grown into quite a large family, and with love and respect, they gathered today to attend her burial. They are; one daughter, Blanche, Mrs. Harold Brown, California; four grandchildren, Dwaine Johnson, Virginia; Eugene Johnson, Mason City; Emily, Mrs. Carl Swearingen, Marshalltown; and Robert Brown, California; six greatgrandchildren; George Joseph Johnson, Linda Jean Johnson, Eugene Johnson JR., Debrah Sue Johnson, Michael Johnson, and John Brown; seven nieces and nephews, Mrs. G.T. Waddingham, Mrs. Herman Baack, Miss Minnie Blumer, Emil Blumer, Mrs. J. J. Lemke, Walter Blumer, and Jake Blumer, and many more distant relatives and friends.