LEMKE, Henry Karl 1854-1925

LEMKE, GROTJOHN, CLAUSSEN, WIBBENS, WENZEL

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/10/2010 at 17:22:12

After six days of helplessness and practical unconsciousness as a result of a stroke of paralysis, Henry Karl Lemke passed away at 12:15 o’clock Monday afternoon, May 4, 1925 at his home in Rock Rapids. He was just past 71 years of age.

Mr. Lemke had been in ill health for some time, but he was able to be up and around most of the time until the last few weeks. He had heart trouble and high blood pressure. Two weeks ago he was taken to McKennan hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for an examination, but the doctors were unable to do anything for him. The stroke came at noontime Tuesday of last week while he was in bed. It affected his right side and left him unable to speak and helpless. His condition continued critical, and on Monday morning he suffered much pain, so that death came to him as a relief.

The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon, May 6, the procession moving from the home to the North Lutheran church, of which the deceased man had become a member about a year ago. Pallbearers were Dan McGraw, Mert McLaughlin, Fritz Langfeldt, Henry Jansen, George Smith and Fred Kemna. Rev. A. H. Landgreve conducted the services. The large congregation showed that the deceased man had many friends. Interment was in Riverview cemetery in Rock Rapids.

Henry Karl Lemke was born in Clayton county, Iowa, near Garnavillo, January 3, 1854. In 1870 he moved to Sioux county, Iowa and worked on a farm. Here he met Minnie Grotejohn, who had come out from Platteville, Wisconsin to keep house for a brother. On April 4, 1886, they were married at Platteville. They lived near Hull, Iowa for a year and near Steen, Minnesota about two years before moving to Lyon county in 1890. for a time they farmed the Kachelhoffer place west of Rock Rapids, now occupied by Emil VanAnne. Mr. Lemke worked several years for Roach, Keck & Wold on their farms. He also worked five years for the Illinois Central Railroad under Ed Robinson as section boss. From 1909 to 1917 he was in the employ of Ed Barron who ran a livery stable in Rock Rapids. He was a lover of good horses and drove all over Lyon county and neighboring country, night and day. This was before automobiles were in common use, and Mr. Lemke played an important part in the transportation of doctors and others on business trips. Few men know the roads better than he. For two years after the Barron stable closed its doors, the automobile having put the livery house out of business, Mr. Lemke was in the employ of Dr. Moon, veterinarian.

During more recent years he was in the employ of the city of Rock Rapids, on the streets. He was a hard worker, proud of doing his job well and faithful to every trust, no matter how humble.

Thirteen years ago he underwent a serious operation on one of his knees, and this had an effect on his health. Five years ago he was overcome by the heat. His heart had been giving him much trouble, and he often was confined to his home. He hated to be idle, however and whenever it was at all possible, he kept at work. He was always anxious to do his part, even when failing health made it hard for him to get around.

The deceased man is survived by his widow, one son and three daughters. George Lemke farms near Rock Rapids, and the daughters are Mrs. Henry Claussen, living near Rock Rapids; Mrs. E. J. Wibbens, living near Adrian, Minnesota and Miss Mattie Lemke, living at home. Mrs. Charles Wenzel of Alvord, Iowa, is a sister, and he had four brothers: August, of Worthington, Minnesota; John of Mankato, Minnesota; Louis of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Fred of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

(Rock Rapids Review of May 7, 1925)