Dittmer, Johanna Mrs. Elmer 1898-1920

DITTMER, NANNINGA

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 11/24/2011 at 11:41:52

From the Hawarden Independent of March 18, 1920 Ireton News.
Sad Death of Young Mother
A pall of gloom and sadness was cast over the entire community Tuesday evening when the word was passed that Mr. Elmer Dittmer had been called by the hand of death. The shock to those near and dear was rendered all the more severe by the fact that a little son had come to brighten the home just a few days before, and that her critical illness was of such short duration. The little son was born Tuesday, March 9th. All was happiness for three short days, and then the mother suffered a relapse. All that medical skill and tender care could do for her was done. At times her condition seemed encouraging, but on Tuesday afternoon she began to fail rapidly, and at 8 o’clock the soul of the young wife and mother had taken its flight to the mansions of its Creator and Redeemer.
Johanna F. Nanninga was born in Washington Township May 31 1898. She was the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Nanninga, long time residents of Sioux County. She made her home on the farm with her parents until 1915, when they retired from the farm and moved to Ireton, Johanna being the only one of their thirteen children to move to the new home with them. On June 11 1918, she was untied in marriage with Mrs. Elmer Dittmer. Soon after their marriage her husband enlisted in the navel service of his country and on July 18th was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training school. In August the young wife followed him and found employment in on of the government factories at Waukegan, neat the training school. Both were this in the government service. On December 16th they returned to Ireton, hostilities having ended and Mrs. Dittmer having received his honorable discharge.
Mr. Dittmer then rented the Chas. Bertram farm just north of Ireton where they have since made their home. Besides her husband and infant son, she leaves her aged parents, her brothers and sisters and a wife circle of warm friends to mourn her untimely death.
The funeral services will be held at 2:30 Friday afternoon at the Ireton Lutheran Church, of which the deceased has been a member since her baptism in infancy. Her pastor, Rev. J. E. Rich. Schmidt, who gave her instruction in the chief doctrines of the Christian religion and confirmed her seven years ago, and who untied her so happily in marriage with her now sorely bereaved husband, will preach the funeral service.