Varenhorst, Henry 1884 - 1943

VARENHORST, VARENHORST

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/16/2017 at 00:06:46

Lifeless Body Hanging In Small Shed

Henry Varenhorst, Despondent Over Affairs Hangs Self

The lifeless body of Henry Varenhorst, 58, farmer of Johnson Township, was found dangling at the end of a rope throw across a beam in a small shed at his home Monday morning. The man had evidently been dead for several days, according to Coroner S. H. Luken and Sheriff Frank Scholler who were notified by neighbors who made the discovery of the body. The corpse was frozen stiff when cut down. According to stories of the neighbors the man had not been seen for several days. A neighbor called at the place Thursday and not seeing Varenhorst concluded he had gone to town or some of the other neighbors. Mail was found in the mailbox at the gate containing newspapers a week old.

Officers found a note in the dead man’s clothes in which it stated “it was the only thing to do”. Names of various people were found on a sheet of note paper, with addresses, presumably relatives ad friends, and a valise was found neatly packed with is best suit of clothes and other toilet articles. The act was apparently premeditated and is ascribed to the fact that he was brooding over domestic and financial matters.

His wife recently obtained a divorce from him and was awarded most of the property in a stipulation when the decree was issued, and his only son was drafted into the army a short time ago. Since a sale of property was made a few weeks ago he had been living alone on the place and there was no stock left to care for.

Henry Varenhorst was born September 15, 1884, at Petersburg, Ill., and came to Le Mars when young with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Varenhorst.

He leaves a son, Donald, who is stationed at Camp Haar, Cal., a sister, Mrs. Carl Klose, and a brother, Albert, at White Lake, S. D., a brother, Rudolph Varenhorst, of Mitchell, S. D., and a brother, Frank Varenhorst, of Le Mars.

The funeral services will probably be held Wednesday afternoon at the Luken funeral home.

Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Tuesday, February 16, 1943
Le Mars, Iowa

Obituary

Henry N. Varenhhorst, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 9, at his home. He had reached the age of 59 years at the time of death.

Mr. Varenhorst was born at Petersburg, Ill., on Sept. 15, 1884, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Varenhorst. When he was a small boy he came with his parents to Plymouth county and settled in Grant Township. He worked on a farm when he was a young man and in 1906 he was united in marriage to Lydia Varenhorst. They farmed in Johnson Township until his death.

He leaves to mourn his passing his divorced wife, one son, Donald in the army service, one sister, Mrs. Carl Klose of White Lake, S. D., Rudolph of Mitchell, and Frank of Le Mars.

Funeral services were held at Luken’s funeral home Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 2 p.m. with Rev. W. M. Hubbard, and interment was made in the city cemetery.

Acting as pall bearers were George Smith, Henry Frahm, Geo. Rembe, John Neisius, John Geary, and Fred Keuhn.

Le Mars Globe Post
February, 18, 1943
Le Mars, Iowa