Detlef Rosenkranz 1847-1928

ROSENKRANZ, BERGER, SCHLEUTER, MILLER, YEAGER

Posted By: Joni Hindman (email)
Date: 3/12/2007 at 13:59:40

PIONEER LOCAL MERCHANT DIES
Detlef Rosenkranz, Famous for Black Bear, Passes Monday

Detlef Frederick Rosenkranz, 81, who was in business in Iowa City for nearly half a century, died at his home, 312 Ronalds street, at 11:50 o’clock Monday night. The infirmities of old age caused his death.

For 48 years Mr. Rosenkranz conducted a store on South Clinton street, and everyone remembers the big black bear which always stood in front of his place.

He was born near Kiel in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, April 7, 1847, and came to America March 12, 1866. On August 3, 1875, he married Miss Louisa Berger, who died March 1, 1896. Mr. Rosenkranz married Miss Amelia Schleuter September 27, 1910, but this union was dissolved by death in less than a year, the wife passing April 9, 1911. On August 7, 1916, he married Mrs. Matilda Miller of Davenport, and she survives him.

Mr. Rosenkranz came from Davenport to Iowa City in September, 1877, and started in business, under the firm name of Rosenkranz and Wilkins. He bought his partner’s interest in 1881 and conducted the store until March 1, 1925, when he sold out and retired.

Besides his widow, there are surviving two daughters, Misses Pauline and Matila [sic] Rosenkranz of Boulder, Colo.; two brothers, Hans of Reinbeck, Ia., and John of Moline, Ill and a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Yeager of Los Angeles, Cal. A son, Herman, died in November, 1922.

The funeral service will be held Thursday at the Beckman funeral parlor at 10 o’clock, with the Rev. A. C. Proehl of the German Lutheran church officiating. The body will then be taken to Davenport where a short service will be held, to be followed by cremation and burial of the ashes in Fairmont cemetery at Davenport.

(Iowa City Press-Citizen, 17 July 1928, page 11)