Tank, John 1868-1953 and Catherine Greve Family

TANK, GREVE, BODE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 12/6/2021 at 19:06:44

Tank, John (1868-1953) and Catherine (Greve) Family

This story was taken from the ‘Rock Valley Records & Recollections’ book written about 1976 in honor of the two hundredth birthday of our nation. It was a revision of the history written by Lottie Thomas in 1955. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society and some research notes were added. Submitted to the BIOS page by Wilma J. Vande Berg.

In the year of 1885 John Tank came from Schleswig-Holstein, Germany to Garwin, Iowa (Tama County) to his sister’s, Mrs. Able Stamp, who also came from Germany prior to his coming. While in Germany, he worked as a farm laborer and attended public school in the winter months. In 1889 he came to Sioux County and to Maurice, Iowa, again working as a farm laborer on various farms in Plato Township. In 1893 he married Catherine Greve, at Gladbrook, Iowa (Tama County). Mrs. Tank was born in Kiel, Wisconsin.

After their marriage they moved on a farm in Plato Township Section 30, Northwest quarter. In 1903 they moved to the Southeast quarter of the same section, and lived there until 1921 when they retired and moved to Rock Valley at 1820 16th Street (Larry Van Berkum home).

They were the parents of six daughters, namely, Alvina (Mrs. Fred Dierks), Emma (Mrs. Edwin Miller), Emilie (Mrs. Albert Klein), and Catherine (Mrs. Hans Moeller), who all live in the vicinity. Two daughters died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Tank were faithful members of Peace Lutheran Church, where he was church treasurer for twenty-five years. In 1892 he returned to Germany to visit his father, two sisters, and one brother. His brother, Carl, and wife came to Sioux County in 1907. John Tank died in 1953 and Mrs. Tank in 1957.

Descendants (grandchildren) of John Tank are still on the two farms where he once was. Robert Moeller, son of Catherine and Hans Moeller, is farming the Northwest quarter and the Southeast quarter is farmed by Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Mouw, Mrs. Mouw is the daughter of Alvina and Fred Dierks.

(Above by Mrs. Hans Moeller)

OBITUARY OF JOHN TANK
Large Crowd at John Tank Funeral Monday Afternoon
A very large crowd attended the funeral services for Mr. Tank which were held at the home at 1:30 Monday and at Peace Lutheran church at 2 p.m. with Rev. C. J. Rebelein officiating and Vander Ploeg's Funeral home having charge of the funeral arrangements. Special music included "Heaven Is My Home" and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" sung by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Williams. Pall bearers were Fred Dierks, Ed Miller, Albert Klein, Hans Moeller, Robert Gayer and Carl Tank. Burial was made in Peace Lutheran cemetery.
John Tank, son of Jacob and Catherine Bode Tank, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on May 24, 1868. When he was 17 years old he came to America to his sister who lived near Garwin, Iowa. On Feb. 17, 1893, he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Greve of Gladbrook. To this union six daughters were born, two of whom died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Tank came to Sioux county and Plato township and settled on a farm. In the spring of 1921 they came to Rock Valley where they have lived since. Just recently on Feb. 17, they observed their 60th wedding anniversary quietly at the Sioux Center hospital where he had been a patient since Dec. 4.
Mr. Tank, who was baptized in infancy and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, was a member of Peace Lutheran church and on Nov. 23 had still attended services at the church. However, he became ill the following week and was taken to the hospital where he remained until his death April 4.
Mr. Tank leaves to mourn his death his wife and four daughters, Alvine (Mrs. Fred Dierks), Emma (Mrs. Edwin Miller), Emilie (Mrs. Albert Klein) of Inwood, and Catherine (Mrs. Hans Moeller), as well as 15 grandchildren and 8 greatgrandchildren. He was the last of his sisters and brothers. Three sisters and two brothers preceded him in death: Carl of Rock Valley and [Mrs.] Able Stamp of Gladbrook, and the other in Germany. Mr. Tank attained the age of 84 years, 10 months and 10 days.
Source: Rock Valley Bee, April 9, 1953.
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A shorter obit in the Sioux Center News (April 9) adds the residences of his daughters: Alvina Dierks in Sioux Center, Emma Miller in Rock Valley, Emilie Klein in Inwood, and Catharine Moeller in Rock Valley. He had two brothers, Carl and one who died in infancy, and three sisters, Mrs. Able Stamp of Gladbrook and two who died in infancy.

OBITUARY OF CATHARINE TANK
Final Rites Held Tuesday for Mrs. John Tank, 86
Funeral services were held at the Peace Lutheran church at 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, for Mrs. John (Catherine) Tank, 86, long-time resident of Rock Valley vicinity and a resident of Sioux county since 1893, who died at the Sioux Center Community hospital early Saturday [December 28]. Services were conducted by the Rev. Henry Prieb and burial was made in the Peace Lutheran cemetery. Vander Ploeg's funeral home was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Tank, nee Catherine Greve, was born September 20, 1871, at New Holstein, Wis., and at the age of 11 moved with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Greve, to Gladbrook, Ia. On February 17, 1893, she was married to John Tank and as a bride moved to Sioux county. The couple made their home seven miles west of Sioux Center until 1920 and then moved to a farm near Rock Valley where they resided until Mr. Tank passed away April 4, 1953. She had since made her home with her children. Mrs. Tank was the oldest member of the Peace Lutheran church at the time of her passing.
Survivors include four daughters, Alvina (Mrs. Fred Dierks) of Sioux Center, Emma (Mrs. Ed Miller) of Rock Valley, Emilie (Mrs. Albert Klein) of Inwood, and Catherine (Mrs. Hans Moeller) of Rock Valley; 15 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by two daughters, who died in infancy; a sister and three brothers.
Pall bearers were Harold and Robert Moeller, Wayne and Ladean Klein, John E. Miller and Marvin Mouw.
Source: Sioux Center News, January 2, 1958.
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A shorter obit in the Hawarden Independent (Jan. 9) adds that she was a member of the Peace Lutheran Ladies Aid.

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