Lucken, Gerhard 1876-1956

LUCKEN, BEERMANN

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/3/2013 at 13:14:25

Gerhard Lucken

(Although the Globe Post recently published the obituary of Gerhard Lucken of Akron, the family has requested that the following account of his life be printed).

An aged and beloved pioneer of Plymouth County and of the Akron Community passed away at his farm home last Saturday, Oct. 27, at 5:45 A. M. Gerhard Lucken had been in failing health for the last 8 months.

On August 5, of this year he had suffered a fractured hip in a fall at his farm-home after spending about 3 weeks in a hospital in Sioux City, he seemed to have recovered fairly well from this misfortune; but soon after his return to his home his health began to decline and it soon became evident that because of the infirmities of old age his end would be near.

On October 19 he was privileged to observe his 89th birthday.

On Saturday, October 27 as the day began to dawn, Mr. Lucken passed away in his sleep reaching the ripe old age of 89 years and 8 days.

Mr. Lucken was the father of 2 sons who are well-known in the Akron Community. J. Henry Lucken who is a member of the State Legislature and Ernest Lucken who is residing on the Lucken home place. Mr. Lucken was a lifelong and faithful member of the Lutheran Church; at the time of his death he was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Preston Twp. where he had been a member for 54 years.

After he retired from farming, he adopted gardening and the love and care of flowers as his pastime hobby – and he enjoyed to travel. He kept a very active interest in the news and events of general interest until his failing health did not permit him to do so. He was a kindhearted man who was loved and liked by all who knew him.

The funeral services for Mr. Lucken were conducted last Tuesday at the St. John’s American Lutheran Church with the pastor Rev. Henry J. Dirks officiating with a brief service at the farm home preceding. Mr. Lucken was laid to rest in St. John’s Church Cemetery.

Gerhard Lucken, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Lucken was born October 19, 1876, in Neuemburg, Germany. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in his home church in Germany: he remained faithful to this faith until death. At the age of 18 he came to the United States, that is in 1886. After working as a farm-hand for about 2 years in Jones County, Iowa, he came to Plymouth County in 1888 where he lived for nearly 70 years.

On October 21, 1894, he was united in holy wedlock to Miss Caroline Beermann, in Akron. The newly married couple soon moved to a farm near Akron where they lived for about 8 years; then in 1902 Lucken and family home ever since. One daughter, Mary, and 2 sons, Simon and John preceded the parents in death. Mr. and Mrs. G. Lucken were privileged to observe their golden wedding October 21, 1944; but Mrs. Lucken was called to her heavenly home after a lingering illness June 5, 1945.

The passing of a kind and loving father is mourned by 9 children; 4 sons and 5 daughters, J. Henry of Akron, Mrs. Wallace (Ann) Curry of South Sioux City, Nebr., Mrs. Leo (Rose) Swain of Fremont, Neb. Fred of Akron, Bernard of Montgomery, Minn., Mrs. Harley (Henrietta) Bae of Sioux City, Ernest of Le Mars, Mrs. Theodore (Johanna)Erickson of Viborg, S. Dakota and Mrs. Charles (Dorothy) Murphy of Burbank, So. Dakota; besides these children Mr. Lucken leaves to mourn two half-brothers John and Henry Lucken of Likely, Canada, 25 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

The sympathy of the entire community is extended to the Lucken family and especially to the children of this beloved aged pioneer of Plymouth County.

Le Mars Globe Post
Thursday, November 1, 1956
Le Mars, Iowa