Erks, Helen Margaret 1868-1956

ERKS, JACOBS, FRERICHS

Posted By: Glenna Rice, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/5/2012 at 18:43:29

Hold Rites for a Pioneer Preston Township Woman

Mrs. Helen Erks Had Resided In County Eighty-Three Years

Mrs. Helen Erks, the oldest lady of St. John's Lutheran church, Preston, Twp., passed away at her home on LeMars Saturday, June 16, after a brief illness of about two weeks. She and her husband, Rudolph Erks, who preceded her in death in 1922, were among the earliest pioneers in Plymouth county. Soon after their wedding in 1899 Mr. Erks began farming on a tract of land in Preston Twp., which at the time was all wild prairie, and it required much hard labor to bring it to a state of proper cultivation.

Helen Margaret Erks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Friedrich G. Jacobs, was born Sept. 3, 1868 at Monee, Ill. In infancy she was baptized by the local pastor. At the age of three years she came with her parents to Jones Co., and two years later, in 1873, she came to she came to Plymouth county. On April 6, 1889, she was joined in holy wedlock with Rudolph Erks. To this union 5 children--2 daughters, Maria and Margaret, and three sons, Fred, John and William were born.

It was March 28, 1922, when her husband passed away after a serious illness of many months; thus she was a widow for more than 34 years. Mrs. Erks enjoyed fairly good health nearly all her life with the exception of the last few months. It was a great shock to her when her daughter Margaret, (Mrs. John Helmrichs) passed away May 29, after a very serious illness. She was able to attend the funeral services; but soon after this sorrowful experience she took sick. Because of her age her condition grew steadily weaker until the final summons came.

The departure of this aged mother is morned by four children: Mrs. Marie (Henry) Frerichs, Akron, and three sons, Fred of Hawarden, John and William, both of Akron. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren, 14 grandchildren, one aged brother, John Jacobs, of LeMars and many other relatives and friends. She reached the age of 87 years, 9 months and 13 days.

Mrs. Erks was a life-long member of the Lutheran Church and for the greater part of her life a member of the St. John's Am. Lutheran Church in Preston Twp. She lived in Preston Twp., nearly all of her life; but for the last two years she lived with Mrs. Ida Krause, who also mourns her passing, in her home in LeMars.

The funeral service for Mrs. Erks was held Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Mauer Funeral Home in LeMars and the main service at St. John's Lutheran Church, Preston Twp. She was laid to rest in the St. John's Lutheran cemetery, with the pastor, Henry J. Dirks officiating.

The entire community expresses it's sympathy to the Erks family who have experienced two deaths within 3 weeks.

The Akron Register-Tribune
Thursday, June 28, 1956; page 1, column 5
Akron, Plymouth, Iowa