Stuckenbruck, Joe 1863-1936 & Mathilda Nieland Family

STUCKENBRUCK, NIELAND, LEMMERMANN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 12/30/2021 at 08:56:23

Stuckenbruck, Joe 1863-1936 and Mathilda Nieland Family

History of the Stuckenbruck Family

This story was taken from the ‘Rock Valley Records & Recollections’ book (pp. 60-61) 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.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Stuckenbruck began their lives together in 1890 in Benton County, Iowa, near Luzerne. Mrs. Stuckenbruck had a brother, Henry Nieland, who had come to Sioux County and bought 160 acres in Plato Township, Northeast ¼ Section 29, six miles south of Rock Valley, Iowa. Mr. Neiland was a widower and wanted to sell his land.

Joe and Matilda, his wife, decided they would like to live in a new settlement, so with their two young girls, Erma and Alva, they hitched their horses to a buggy and made the long and tiresome journey of 300 miles to Henry Nieland’s farm. In 1897, Joe and his wife agreed to buy the farm for $6,000.00 and also agreed to give Mr. Nieland board and room for himself and hay and stable room for one horse and buggy for his lifetime.

Life went well for Joe and his wife. Two more children were born to them, Ethel and Richard. They profited so well from the farm that they bought more land; 80 acres in Section 21, which is no longer owned by the Stuckenbruck family, and 160 acres in Plato Township Northwest ¼ Section 28, which is still owned by the Stuckenbruck family. This transaction was made with Elizabeth Rentscher in 1915 for $16,000. This land is also six miles from Rock Valley, directly across the road from the first farm.

Years passed, the children grew up, and Joe and Matilda retired to Ireton, Iowa. The two oldest girls married and moved to other locations. Richard, who married Helen Borcher, stayed on the home place. Ethel married Ben Riegel, and they live on the farm directly across the road (¼ Northwest Section 28).

Richard and Helen had one daughter, Shirley. Richard enjoyed working with land and trying new ideas. He was one of the first in this vicinity to contour the land. He farmed with horses until the thirties when he then bought a tractor. Along with grain farming, he raised livestock.

By 1936, both Mr. and Mrs. Joe Stuckenbruck had passed away, and the land was passed on to their children. Later, in 1953, the Ben Riegels sold their share of the land to Richard Stuckenbruck so the land would remain in the Stuckenbruck family.

Through the years changes have been made on both farmsteads, and a new farmstead was added on the north part of Section 29 when Shirley Stuckenbruck and Harold De Graff were married. This was done so that they would have a home and could enter into the farming operation. They have farmed with Shirley’s parents since 1948. Shirley and Harold have three children, Douglas, Sharla, and Curtis, all of whom left home to attend college. Douglas, who taught agriculture, married Judy Vogelzang, and is now farming with his parents. Douglas, Judy, and their two sons, Chad and Dustin, live on the farmstead across the road from the Stuckenbruck family farm.

In 1973 Richard Stuckenbruck passed away, leaving the land in the possession of his wife, daughter, and family.

Above submitted to the Rock Valley Book by Mrs. Harold De Graff

OBITUARY OF JOE STUCKENBRUCK
Born August 18, 1863 Luzerne, Benton Co.Iowa
Died Feruary 24, 1936, Ireton, Iowa
J.C. Struckenbruck one of Ireton's best known and most highly respected citizens passed away at his home in Ireton at 4 o'clock Monday afternoon. He had been in failing health for some time and suffered several heart attacks from which he appeared to rally. In order to pass away the time he very frequently accompanied John Vlotho Jr. on his rounds of the telephone lines and it was while on one of these trips some weeks ago that he suffered a stroke from which he never recovered.
It was originally planned to hold funeral services at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the Presbyterian Church with Rev. W. O. Harper in charge, but owing to Wednesday's storm with its drifted highways it was considered probably that it might to necessary to postpone the date of the funeral.
Joseph Charles Stuckenbruck, son of William and Katherine Stuckenbruck was born at Luzerne, Benton County, Iowa, August 18, 1863, and passed away Feb. 24, 1936, at the age of 72 years, 6 months and 6 days. He grew to young manhood in Benton County and on Oct. 18, 1892 he was united in marriage to Mathilda Nieland, at Keystone, Iowa. In the spring of 1897 they moved to Sioux County and located on a farm in Plato Township, six miles south of Rock Valley. They was their home for 26 years.
Source: Hawarden Independent February 27, 1936

OBITUARY OF MATILDA STUCKENBRUCK
From the Rock Valley Bee, May 31, 1935:
Death of Mrs. J. C. Stuckenbruck
Mrs. Matilda Stuckenbruck, for nearly 40 years a resident of Sioux county, died at her home here early Tuesday at the age of 68 years.
Funeral services were to be held Thursday at 2 o’clock at the home and 2:30 at the Presbyterian church with Rev. W. O. Harper in charge. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Matilda, daughter of Henry and Maria Nieland, was born Nov. 3, 1867 in Benton county, Ia. She was married Oct. 5, 1892, to Joseph C. Stuckenbruck at Keystone, Iowa.
They lived on the Stocker farm near Keystone for four years. They then moved to Sioux county and settled on a farm south of Rock Valley where they lived 26 years. At the end of that period they retired from the farm and located in Ireton where they spent the last 12 years.
Mr. Stuckenbruck always enjoyed good health until a year and a half ago since which time she had occasional heart attacks, the last of which proved fatal.
To Mr. and Mrs. Stuckenbruck were born five children, Elsie, died at the age of 18 months. The others are Mrs. Emma Grau, Mrs. Alva Degan of Ireton, Mrs. Ethel Riegal and Richard Stuckenbruck of Sioux Center. There are also 7 grand children and one great grand daughter. Mrs. Stuckenbruck herself was one of a family of twelve but only one sister and three brothers survive. Mrs. Martha Hoffman of Hood River, Ore.; Will Nieland of Ashton, Ida.; and Charles Nieland of Hancock, Minn.; Leo Nieland of Blairstown, Iowa.
Mrs. Stuckenbruck for many years had been an honored member of the Rebekah lodge, she was a most excellent woman of unusual strength of character. She was widely known and universally loved and respected. Her kindly disposition and excellent judgment have been greatly appreciated. Her home and family were always her center of interest but her concern for others was most sincere.
While an infant she was baptized in the German Lutheran church. Her attendance at church services was very regular and her devotion to the cause of the Lord was genuine. She believed the Bible and accepted the gospel without question. Long a Christian in spirit and in fact she made solemn declaration with her husband of faith in Christ, and their reception into the membership of the Presbyterian church of Ireton occurred on May 5, just sixteen days before she was called to her heavenly home.
Her sorrowing husband, children, and other relatives have the profound sympathy of all.—Ireton Ledger.
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Basically the same obituary was published in the Hawarden Independent, May 23, 1935. An introduction to the obit says that the evening before her death she and her husband were paying a sympathy call to the Warren Nanninga home, where his mother had just died, and returned to their home late in the evening. Sometime after 11 o’clock Monday night Mrs. Stuckenbruck was suddenly taken ill with a heart attack and as soon as possible a doctor was called but she died before 1 o’clock Tuesday morning.
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From the Sioux Center News, May 30, 1935:
During Monday night Mrs. J. C. Stuckenbruck of Ireton died after only a few hours illness. She had been visiting her daughter Mrs. A. C. Grau, who is seriously ill at the Hull hospital and was apparently in normal health when Mr. Stuckenbruck called for her on Monday.
(The remainder of the short obit gives information found in the above obits. It gives alternate names for two of her children: Mrs. Elva Deegan and Mrs. Ethel Regell.
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RESEARCH NOTES
Her death certificate has her as Matilda Nieland, wife of Jos. C. Stuckenbruck, gives her birthplace as Germany, her death date as 1 a.m. May 21, 1935, and her cause of death as coronary thrombosis, onset 1932.
FindaGrave.com gives her full name as Matilda Maria Nieland Stuckenbruck, born 3 Nov 1867 in Luzerne, Benton County, Iowa; died 21 May 1935 in Ireton; buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Ireton; parents Henry Christoph Nieland (1821-1900) and Mary Dorothea Lemmermann Nieland (1824-1892); several siblings listed; husband Joseph Charles Stuckenbruck (1863-1936); children Elsie Stuckenbruck (1893-1897), Erma A. Grau (1895-1935), Alva Mae Degen (1896-1968), Ethel Ida Riegal (1898-1978), and Richard Charles Stuckenbruck (1900-1973).

OBITUARY OF HENRY NIELAND
From the Alton Democrat, March 10, 1900, Rock Valley news:
Henry Nieland, sr., died at his home south of town [Rock Valley] on Wednesday morning at an advanced age. The remains were shipped to Benton county, where the interment took place.
Also in the Alton Democrat, March 10, 1900, Hudson news:
Mr. Nieland, sr., who has been very ill for some time, died at the home of his daughter, ten miles east of here in Sioux county, on Wednesday at three o’clock in the morning. He was seventy-eight years old and leaves several grown up sons and daughters to mourn his loss. Mr. Nieland was well known here and was highly respected by all who knew him. The remains were taken to Benton county, Iowa, and were laid beside those of his wife who preceded him to that brighter land some years ago. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved ones left behind.
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Researcher Wilma J. Vande Berg found information online: Henry Nieland born 18 Jun 1821 Mecklenburg Germany died 7 March 1900 listed as in Benton County Iowa, (however he died in Sioux county Iowa his remains were shipped to Benton County). His wife was Mary Lemerman 1824-1892. In the 1870 census they had the following children - Martha 14, Henry 12, Charles? 11, Augusta 11, William 8, John 4, and Matilda 2.

OBITUARY OF HAROLD DE GRAFF
De Graaff, Harold
Home Town: Rock Valley, IA
Deceased Date: Tuesday, Oct 23, 2007
Service: Sat, Oct 27, 2007
Time: 1:00 pm
Address: Tabernacle Baptist Church George, IA 　
Obituary: Rock Valley, IA: Harold De Graaff, 85, of Rock Valley, died Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at Hegg Memorial Hospital. Funeral Service will be 1 pm Saturday at the Tabernacle Baptist Church, George, IA. Burial will be at Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley. Rev. Bryon Anderson and Rev. Dr. Curt De Graaff will be officiating. Visitation with the family present will be 6:30-8:30 pm Friday at Porter Funeral Home, Rock Valley. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Sioux County Hospice (CHEARS).
Harold De Graaff was born on May 19, 1922 near Matlock, IA, son of Frank and Anna (Van Sloten) De Graaff. Harold’s family later moved to Rock Valley where he attended grades 7-12, graduating the Rock Valley Public High School in 1941. Harold enjoyed baseball and was a catcher with the high school team and then with the Rock Valley Baseball town team. He enjoyed all sports. On August 29, 1946, Harold was united in marriage to Shirley Stuckenbruck. Harold and Shirley farmed south of Rock Valley until 2000. They retired to Rock Valley in 2003. Harold was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in George, IA. He believed in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life. His heart’s desire was for his children and grandchildren to know the Lord and walk with Him! He enjoyed gardening, farm work, and studying God’s Word. Harold loved spending time with his family and friends.
Harold is survived by his wife, Shirley; children, Douglas (Judy) De Graaff of Dodge City, KS, Sharla (David) Brammer of Sioux Center, IA, Dr. Curtis (Karen) De Graaff, of Erlanger, KY; 11 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; sisters, Angeline (John) Oolbekkink of Luverne, MN, Verna (Bill) Boer of Rock Valley, Alma (Jerry) Van Aalsburg of Modesto, CA; sister-in-law, Gladys De Graaff of Meridian, ID.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Anna; 5 brothers, Francis, Donald, William, Mitchell, and Elmer De Graaff; 3 sisters, Josephine Peters, Betty and Minnie De Graaff; grandson, Benjamin Douglas De Graaff.
Source: Porter Funeral Home, Rock Valley, Ia., obit.

OBITUARY OF SHIRLEY STUCKENBRUCK DE GRAFF
Porter Funeral Home Obituary
Obituary: Rock Valley, Iowa: Shirley De Graaff, 90, of Rock Valley, died Saturday, February 01, 2014 at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 7, 2014 at Tabernacle Baptist Church in George, Iowa with a luncheon to follow. Burial will be at Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley following the luncheon at church. Visitation with the family present will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 6, 2014 at Porter Funeral home in Rock Valley. Memorials may be given to the Tabernacle Baptist Church Building Fund.
Shirley Phyllis (Stuckenbruck) De Graaff was born December 6, 1923 at her family’s farm south of Rock Valley. She was the only child of Rich and Helen (Borchers) Stuckenbruck. Shirley attended Country School through 8th grade then Rock Valley Public School where she graduated with the class of 1941. She was united in marriage to Harold De Graaff on August 29, 1946. The couple farmed south of Rock Valley until 2000. They retired to Rock Valley in 2003. Harold passed away on October 23, 2007, in Rock Valley, after more than 61 years of marriage. In November 2011 Shirley moved to Aspen Heights Assisted Living in Hull; then in December 2013 moved to Whispering Heights Nursing Home in Rock Valley.
Shirley was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church of George, Iowa. She believed in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life. Her heart’s desire was for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to know the Lord and walk with Him! She loved spending time with family and friends. Shirley was a hard worker and enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking, sewing and working alongside her husband doing the farm work.
Shirley is survived by her children, Douglas (Judy) De Graaff of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Sharla (David) Brammer of Sioux Center, and Curtis (Karen) De Graaff of Brownsburg, Indiana; 11 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; 4 sisters-in-law: Angeline Oolbekkink of New London, Minnesota, Verna (Bill) Boer of Rock Valley and Alma (Jerry) Van Aalsburg of Modesto, California and Gladys De Graaff of Meridian, Idaho.
Shirley was preceded in death by her loving husband, Harold De Graaff, her parents and 5 brothers-in-law: Francis, Donald, William, Mitchell and Elmer De Graaff; 3 sisters-in-law: Josephine Peters, Betty and Minnie De Graaff and a grandson, Benjamin Douglas De Graaff.

The picture of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Stuckenbruck was taken from the 1908 Atlas Part IV Section 3 page 38.

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