Ferdinand Sonksen 1846-1944

SONKSEN MEEVERS

Posted By: Connie J Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/22/2012 at 13:32:31

Mapleton Press
13 January 1944

F. Sonksen, 97, Dies in Hospital
Mapleton's Oldest President Passes Away After Short
Illness with Pneumonia

Funeral services were held today for Ferdinand Sonksen, 97, Mapleton's oldest resident, in St Peter's Evangelical church at 2 o'clock.

Mr. Sonksen passed away Tuesday in St Joseph's hospital in Sioux City where he had been a patient only a few days, suffering from pneumonia.

Rev. Egner G Otte, pastor of the church conducted the funeral services. Interment was in Heisler Cemetery under direction of Myers Funeral home. Serving as pallbearers were Frances Chamberlin, M J. Bangoe, Cornelius Claussen, Frank Passick, Arnold Jacobs and Walter Otto.

Mrs. Earl Jacobs, Mrs. Dale E Campbell, Robert Langholz sang “Nearer My God To Thee,” and " We Are Going Down the Valley" with Mrs. Robert Kahn’s as accompanist. Robert Langholz sang a solo "No Night There” accompanied by Max Werner.

Ferdinand Sonksen, son of Broden and Fredericka Sonksen, was born in Strouchen, Schleswig, Holstein, Germany on March 31, 1846, and passed away January 11, 1944 at the age of 97 years, 9 months and 10 days. He was confirmed at the age of 16 in the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Husum, Germany.

He came to the United States in 1882 and stayed at Portline, Ill., for a short time. Later in 1882 he came to Crawford County, lowa, and was employed near Denison. When the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul railway was extended to this part of the state he worked with the construction crew and helped to lay out the town site of Manila, Ia. Following this he farmed near Denison.

On August 4, 1888, he was married to Miss Johanna Meevers. They moved to a farm where the present town of Schleswig is located. In 1894 they moved to Cooper Township in Monona County, retiring from the farm and moving to Mapleton in 1917.

Mr. Sonksen was one of the founders of St. Peter's Evangelical Church in Mapleton and served in various capacities in its organization and work. He was a faithful attendant at the services so long as his Health permitted.

Mrs. Sonksen preceded him in death April 1923.

He is survived by five daughters and three sons, Mrs. Bertha Harner of Sioux City, Mrs. Henrietta Wacheldorf of Anthon, Mrs. Fred Johnk (Minnie) of Hornick, and Mrs. Max Bartels (Leona), Mrs. M P Jolinson (Regina), Harvey Meevers, Bernhard Sonksen and Richard all of Mapleton , five son-in-laws, 3 daughter-in-laws, 28 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

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Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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