John Dahnke Sr (1842-1939)

DAHNKE, POSSEHL, WING, KRAFT, MUHS, STELLING

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 3/22/2022 at 22:56:36

Last Monday afternoon, June 2, at 1:30 o'clock, John Dahnke, Sr., the oldest resident of O'Brien county, passed away at the home of his son, Fred Dahnke in Hartley, with whom he had made his home during the past two and one-half years. Death was due to general disability and old age. Born May 9, 1842 in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, he attained the age of 86 years, one month and three days.

Throughout his long life, the deceased enjoyed unusually good health. Although confined to his room since February 6, 1935, when he suffered a slight apoplectic stroke in the home of his daughter, Mrs. P. Muhs, with whom he was living at the time, he was able to be up at least part of every day until his death. Except for an impediment in his speech, he suffered no harmful after-effects as a result of his stroke. A hale and hearty appetite remained with him down to the very last. Even on the day preceding his death, he heartily relished the meal sent to him by the ladies of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church from their mission festival dinner. Until is 92nd year, he kept and maintained his own home, although taking his meals and sleeping for ten years previous at the home of his son, Fred.

He took a deep interest in his hobby, that of weaving baskets, of which he made many thousands during his lifetime. Only five years ago, in August, 1934, did he find it necessary, because of advancing old age, to leave his own home and go to his children. From that date until October, 1936, he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. P. Mhs, and from October, 1936 until the day of his death, with his son, Fred.

In his youth, the deceased served three years in the German army and took an active part in the German-Austrian war. In one of the battles of this war, he escaped death by hiding beneath the bodies of seven fallen companions. Only three men of his regiment returned from the war alive.

In November, 1866, the deceased was united in holy matrimony with Sophia Marie Dorothea, nee Posshel. Two years after their marriage, in the year 1868, the youg couple came to America, where Mr. Dahnke found employment in the Amana colonies in Iowa County, Iowa. After five years he was able to purchase his own farm near Watkins, in Benton County, to which he moved in the year 1871. There he lived and labored and prospered until the spring of the year 903, when he sold his place and moved to a farm which he had purchased north of the town of Hartley. In the fall of that same year, he left the farm and moved with his wife to the town of Hartley, where he continued to reside until his death.

On April 11, 1909, the deceased suffered a great loss in the death of his life's companion, with whom he had lived happily for 43 years. To the marriage union six children were born, three sons and three daughters. The three sons, all living in Hartley, are Henry, Fred, and John, Jr. Of the three daughters only one, Mrs. P. Muhs, of Hartley, remains alive. Two other daughters, Mrs. Geo. WIng, and Mrs. Henry Stelling, died in the years 1900 and 1911 respectively.

Grandfather Dahnke leaves to mourn his death besides the living children named above, three daughters-in-law: Mrs. Henry Dahnke, Mrs. Fred Dahnke, and Mrs. John Dahnke; 14 grandchildren: Mildred Wing and Mrs. Chas. Carey of Rochester, N.Y.; Mrs. Louis Muhs; Mrs. Emil Leth, Mrs. Dlebert Welch, Mrs. Orville Taylor, Mrs. Peter Nagel, Elmer and Irvin Dahnke, all of Hartley; Mrs. Geo. Brinkert of Sanborn, Mrs. Chas. Sidlo of Menahga, Minnesota, Mrs. Howard Ash of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Elmer Kraft of Madison, South Dakota, and Earl Stelling of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 36 great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren and many other more distant relatives besides a large host of friends.

Grandfather Dahnke was a most desirable citizen, a loving husband, a kind father, a good neighbor, and a loyal Lutheran. Baptized in infancy, he later took and kept the vow of allegiance to Christ and His church throughout his long life. He was a charter member of Saint Paul's Lutheran church and took an active interest in the welfare of the congregation. As long as he was physically able, he was a regular attendant at the services, and a regular communicant at the Lord's Table.

The funeral service will be held his Thursday afternoon at the Lutheran Church in Hartley with Rev. A.C. Weber in charge. Appropriate funeral hymns will be sung by the mixed quartet of the church. Burial will be made in Pleasant View Cemetery, with G.I. Foley in charge of arrangements.

Hartley (Iowa) Sentinel, 5 Jun 1939, pp1,8

John Dahnke Sr on FInd a Grave
 

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