Iske, Christian (and Fred) 1865-1945

ISKE, BUNSE, JENSEN, SCHMIDT, TIEDJE, JESS, CARSTENS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/2/2005 at 08:52:40

Newton Daily News, March 13, 1945, page 1.
Iske Brothers, Past 80, Die In Newton
Death of Fred Iske Follows That of Brother, C. G., By 8 1-2 Hours
Christian and Fred Iske

In a coincidence of the same fate which has paralleled their lives in many respects, two Newton brothers, Fred, 82, and Christian G. Iske, 80, who came to Iowa in their early manhood from their native Germany, died within eight and a half hours of each other.

Mr. Fred Iske, older of the brothers, had been in apparent good health and Saturday had walked to town from his home at 621 North Second avenue West, but the following day entered Skiff Memorial Hospital and underwent an operation for an intestinal obstruction.

His death occurred at 2:40 a.m. today following the death at 6:20 p.m. Monday of Mr. Christian G. Iske who succumbed in a local nursing home after a prolonged illness.
Fred Iske

The second of a family of five children of the late William and Caroline Iske, Fred Iske was born July 3, 1862, at Helmighausen, Germany.

In 1882 he was united in marriage to Louise Bunse and following her death came to the United States in 1885, making the trip with a relative who had returned to Germany for a visit. First locating at St. Joseph, Mo., with his brother, Christian, he came to Iowa two years later, settling on a farm northeast of Newton in the Oak Ridge community. Mr. Iske later sold his homestead which is now owned by a nephew, William H. Iske, and since retiring in 1918 purchased a farm four miles northwest of Newton.

Mr. Iske made three return trips to Germany, the first in 1900 when his only daughter, Mrs. William (Lena) Jensen, accompanied him to the United States, the second in 19??, and the last in 1927.

Surviving in addition to his daughter with whom he made his home, are several nieces and nephews including, William and Louise Iske, Mrs. Herman Bunse, Henry Schmidt, Mrs. Henry Tiedje, and Mrs. F. H. Jess and Mrs. Henrietta Jess all of Newton; Henry Iske of Omaha, Neb.; William Schmidt of Peoria, Ill., and Rinehart Schmidt who is in the services.
C. G. Iske

The third of the five children of William and Caroline Iske, Christian Iske, was born Feb 6, 1865, in Helminghausen, Waldek, Germany and was the first of the brothers to come to the United States, making the voyage in 1883 at the age of 18. After spending four years at St. Joseph, Mo., he came to Iowa in 1887 and with his brother Fred, began farming in the Oak Ridge community northeast of Newton. He later moved to his own farm five miles northwest of Newton, where he lived until retiring in 1916.

On April 3, 1890 he was married to Sophia Elizabeth Carstens. Five children were born to the couple of whom two daughters, Mrs. Henry (Dora) Tiedje and Mrs. Ferdinand (Lena) Jess of Newton, surviving. Also surviving are four grandsons, Lawrence, Harold and Max Tiedje of Newton and Dale with the army air force in Belgium; also two great grandsons, Gary and Jimmy Tiedje and a number of nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his wife who died June 19, 1840, a daughter, Mabel Grace, who died in early childhood; an infant son, a son, Vincent, who died in 1828, and a grandson, Donald Tiedje who died in 1924.
Services

Separate services will be held with the C. G. Iske rites set for 2 o'clock Thursday at the Murdoch Funeral home and the Fred Iske services at 2 o'clock Friday at the Murdoch Funeral home. The Rev. F. D. Boldt, pastor of the First Lutheran church, will officiate at both.

The C. G. Iske remains will lie in state at the Murdoch Funeral home until Wednesday when the body will be taken to the Tiedje home. Members of the Oak Ridge grange of which he was a member and other grangers caring to join are asked to meet at the courthouse at 1 o'clock to attend services in a body. Grangers will be in charge of the graveside rites.

The Fred Iske remains will lie in state at the Murdoch Funeral home until 4:00 p.m. Thursday when the body will be removed to the Jensen home.

The brothers were members of the Lutheran church in Germany and Mr. Fred Iske was a member of the Newton First Lutheran church. Both were members of the Oak Ridge grange, of the Newton B. P. O. Elk lodge and of the Daily News Three Quarter Century Club.

Originally submitted by Volunteer Transcriber