Haas, Charles 1860-1942 and Margaret Capesius Family

HAAS, CAPESIUS, FESS, FORRETTE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/24/2022 at 21:52:53

Haas, Charles 1860-1942 and Margaret Capesius family

This story was taken from pages 86-87 of the Rock Valley St. Mary’s Catholic Church Book written for the centennial of the church in about 1982(?). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added.

CHARLES HAAS was born near Marengo, Iowa on December 25, 1860. He died in 1942. MARGARET CAPESIUS was born on November 13, 1862 near Bellvue, Iowa. She died on January 3, 1939. They were married in 1886 and lived on a farm near Marcus, Iowa where their family of eight children were born as follows: Jennie, Fred, John, Nettie, Joseph, Jerome, Margaret and Ada. The Haas family moved to a vicinity northwest of Rock Valley in March of 1907.

All the family is now deceased except Ada (Mrs. Vincent Smith). All are buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery except Nettie, who is buried at Marcus, Iowa.

1. JENNIE WAS BORN ON April 8, 1887 and taught rural schools for many years. She lived at home until her death on February 14, 1960.

2. FRED was born in approximately 1888. He married Laura Richter on June 15, 1915. Fred was an Overland car dealer in Rock Valley, but later moved to Omaha. They had six children. One is deceased.

3. JOHN was born March 2, 1892 in Remsen, Iowa. He married Elsie Barry who was a school teacher for many years in Lyon and O’Brien Counties. John served in the army in World War I and spent eighteen months overseas. They lived in Iowa Falls, Iowa where John had a Tire and Battery Shop before retiring. He died January 9, 1977 and is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

5. JOSEPH was born January 30, 1894. He married Margaret Keegan on May 1, 1940. They farmed northwest of Rock Valley for many years. For a time she attended school in Alton but she graduated from Rock Valley. She taught school before her marriage. They had two sons: Jim and Jerry. Joe died November 18, 1964 and Margaret passed away July 28, 1980. They are both buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Jim is a Computer Analyst for NCR in Sioux Falls and has two sons: Daniel Joseph and Jeffery.
Jerry is a mechanic at Spirit Lake. He and his wife, Sally, have two sons: Tim and Paul.

6. JEROME was born May 4, 1896. He was a veteran of World War I and served in France. His hobby was working with wood. Almost very home in his neighborhood had a momento of his labors. He designed and built the manger that is used every Christmas at the front of the Church. He also built the shrine around the Crucifix in the basement of the Church. These items are treasured by the parishioners of St. Mary’s. He died on April 19, 1968.

7. MARGARET was born May 4, 1900. She was an invalid all her life and died in 1923.

8. ADA was born December 25, 1903. She married Vincent Smith on January 27, 1936 and lived on a farm near Alvord. Ada was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School in May of 1921. There were eight in her class: Irma Keegan, Lucille Linkenheil, Opal Frembgen, Clarence Keegan, Ivan Manning, John McNamara and Emmett Murphy. She was a school teacher for many years. Ada and Vincent’s children were: Robert, William, Peggy and James. Three other Smith boys died in infancy.
Robert lives in Canton, South Dakota and is an officer in the Army National Guard. He married Carol Stettnicks and they have six children and four grandchildren.
William lives in Nova Scotia, Canada and is an Architect and Professor in the College of Art and Design. He and Mary Therese Kelley from Alvord were married and have three children.
Peggy is the wife of Richard Benzkofer. They live in Austin, Minnesota and have four children.
James, whose wife is Joanne Schuurman, was a mechanic, but is now engaged in farming. They have one daughter.

RESEARCH NOTES: added by Wilma J. Vande Berg (GSCGS)
The family report on ancestry.com (by other family members) identifies the parents of Charles Joseph Haas born 25 Dec 1860 Marengo IA died 21 Mar 1942 Sioux County IA as Jacob Haas 1822-1872 and Caroline Fess 1827-1885. He married Margaret Capesius 1862-1939 the daughter of Nicholas Capesius 1834-1901 and Catherine Forrette 1837-1925. Their children were identified in the above narrative.

OBITUARY OF CHARLES HAAS
Rock Valley Bee of March 27, 1942
Death Calls Charles Haas Iowa Pioneer Came Northwest to Granville as a Young Man Charles Haas, long time respected citizen of the Rock Valley vicinity, passed away Saturday at the age of 81 years. He had lapsed into a coma last Wednesday from which he never regained consciousness before his death.
Born on a farm near Marengo, Iowa, on Christmas day, 1860, he grew up in that locality and as a very young man came west to Granville where he rented the Fry land which was then mostly virgin prairie, south of Granville. After farming there for some years he moved to the Jack Porter farm farther east which he farmed until moving to a place near Marcus where he lived for 13 years and until coming to Rock Valley in 1907, locating on the farm eight and three-quarters miles northwest of here which is still the family home. He married Miss Margaret Capesius in 1886, who preceded her husband in death three years ago.
Seven children were born to the couple, as follows: Jennie, at home; Fred, Omaha, NE; Nettie, Who died while a little girl; John, Iowa Falls; Margaret, who died 24 years ago; Jerome (Romy), and Joseph, who are operating the home farm.
Funeral services were held Tuesday 'morning at St. Mary's Catholic Church for the beloved pioneer, with requiem mass by the pastor, the Rev. Father David McGioiey. Interment was at St. Mary's cemetery here. Of the seven brothers and one sister in this pioneer Iowa Haas family only one brother now survives, Jacob Haas, of Canton, S. D., who is about 87 years of age.
Sioux Center News of Mar 26, 1942
Rock Valley—Special:
Charles Haas one of the pioneers of Sioux County who lives three miles north and three miles west of Rock Valley died suddenly at his home Saturday evening, March 21, 1942. Mr. Haas is 81 years of
age. Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

OBITUARY OF MARGARET HAAS
Source: Sioux Center News (1-12-1939)
Birth: November 13, 1862
Death: January 3, 1939
Funeral Services For Mrs. Charles Haas
Mrs. Charles Haas, a resident of the Rock Valley vicinity for more than thirty years died in her home Tuesday evening, following a lingering illness of fourteen years.
She was born near Bellvue, Johnson County, Iowa, November 13, 1862. In April 1886, she was united in marriage with Charles Haas, and to this union were born eight children, six of whom survive her, Jennie, Joe, and Jerome all at home, Mrs. Vincent Smith of Alvord, John of Iowa Falls, and Fred of Omaha, Nebraska. She also leaves two sisters, Mrs. John Miller and Mrs. Mike Dieters, of Sioux City, Iowa, also five brothers, Edward, Frank and John Capesius of Algona, Iowa, Peter Capesius of Livermore, Iowa, and William Capesius of Chicago.
Funeral services were conducted at 9:30 A. M. Friday, January 6, 1939, in St. Mary's Church in Rock Valley, Reverend A. J. Foerster officiating. She was laid to rest in St. Mary's Cemetery.
The out-of-town relatives and friends who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Fred Haas, of Omaha, Nebraska; Mr. and Mrs. John Haas, Iowa Falls, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Smith, Alvord; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Capesius and Julius Capesius, Algona; Bernard Capesius, Irvington, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Felix Trienen, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Alesch, Marcus, Iowa; Mike Trienen, Remsen; Peter Trienen, Le Mars; Mr. and Mrs. Lauters, John Schneiders, Mrs. Nick Hatz and Mrs. Herman Sliekers, Remsen, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Bert Osvoy, Hudson; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Haas and Frank Albaugh of Canton; Mrs. Will Forette and sons, Mr. and Mrs. Al Forette, Mrs. Sadie Phelan and Francis Heffernan all of Sioux Falls; Mrs. John Flanagan and daughter, of Rock Rapids.

The picture found was in the 1908 Atlas Section 3, page 15.

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