BAHNSEN, Christian 1867-1945

BAHNSEN, WOHLERT, GAST, PAULSON, TROGE

Posted By: Steve Norby (email)
Date: 12/14/2010 at 10:56:55

Chris Bahnsen, 78, of Rock Falls was instantly killed on October 18, 1945 in an automobile accident at a country crossroad ten miles west of Osage. Five other persons involved in the two-car collision were injured. Mr. Bahnsen received a fractured skull and a broken neck. Mr. Bahnsen was riding in a car driven by Glen Gast, his son-in-law.

Funeral services for Mr. Bahnsen were held Tuesday afternoon at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church in rural Osage. Officiating was Rev. C. Blaine Gunderson and burial was made in the Rock Falls Cemetery.

Christian Carsten Bahnsen was born at Oehrstadt, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany on May 28, 1867. He was one of a family of fourteen. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church of Germany before coming to the United States.

At the age of 23, he came to America and settled in Jones County, Iowa. On November 13, 1891, he was married to Margaretha Wohlert and to this union was born ten children, six sons and four daughters, all of whom survive him. These children include: Carsten, of Rock Fall, Iowa; John, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Margaret (Mrs. Gust Paulson) of Osage, Iowa; Bertha (Mrs. Dewey Deckard) of Franklin, Indiana; Hans, of Downing, Indiana; William, of Riceville, Iowa; Linda (Mrs. Arthur Troge), of Rudd, Iowa; Harold, of Ventura, Iowa; Ralph and Christine (Mrs. Glen Gast), both of Nora Springs, Iowa. Twenty-one grandchildren and two great grandchildren also survive him. His wife and one grandson, Wally Gast, preceded him in death.

Mr. Bahnsen farmed in Jones County, Cerro Gordo County, and Floyd County, before retiring to Rock Falls, Iowa where his wife passed away in 1933. Since that time, he has made his home with his children.