Thelen, Catherine (Mrs. John), 1850-1928

THELEN, LEIK, LEICK, ZENDER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:32

From the Alton Democrat, April 6, 1928:

Word was received here this Thursday morning by Very Rev. F. J. Brune of the death of Mrs. Catherine Thelen at Carroll. The remains will be brought here Saturday morning and services will be held at St. Mary's church at eleven o'clock.

The Thelens came to Alton from LeMars in the early days. They occupied the house where J. M. Maier now lives, then moved to the house occupied now by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hansen, Sr. Mr. Thelen and one daughter passed away while the family resided here. Mrs. Thelen and daughter, Rose moved from here to Idaho but of late years Mrs. Thelen has been making her home in Carroll. A large family of children survive whose names and addresses are not available this week.

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From the Alton Democrat, April 13, 1928:

OBITUARY
Mrs. John Thelen, 1850-1928

Hundreds of old friends gathered Saturday morning to attend the funeral of Mrs. John Thelen at St. Mary’s Catholic church at Alton which had been set for 11 o’clock. On account of the heavy snow south of here it was necessary to bring the remains to Alton by train and the body, accompanied by relatives, came on the 12:30 passenger from the south which was nearly an hour and a half late. Scores of cars were at the station when the train arrived, hundreds wishing to pay last respects to a dear friend. Funeral services were conducted by Very Rev. F. J. Brune at St. Mary’s church.

The following beautiful account of Mrs. Thelen’s life is from the Carroll Herald:

Mrs. John Thelen passed away at St. Anthony hospital Wednesday evening at 6 o’clock. While the end was not unexpected, it nevertheless came as a great shock to members of the family and those who were privileged to know her kindly influence. She was a woman of unusual ability, a fine character such as comes from the successful combat with the stern realities of pioneer life in Iowa.

The deceased was born at Picklefsen, Germany, April 16, 1850. Her maiden name was Catherine Leik. 3 years later the family came to the United States and settled at Cascade, Ia. She came to the middle west when the countless prairie was scarcely touched by the hand of white men. Indians roamed the broad acres and it required courage to meet the privations of life.

In 1856 the family moved to Mills county about 12 miles from Council Bluffs. The trip was with ox carts, a far cry from rapid transit of today. They were among the earliest settlers on the western border of the state. Here she grew to womanhood, suffering the hardships so common in those early days. Her mother died one year after locating in Mills county and the father with kindly love and firm determination cared for his family of six small children.

January 14, 1874 she was united in marriage to John Thelen. The young couple made their home in Mills county for 10 years then moved to LeMars, Iowa, where they lived for five years. In 1889 they located in Alton, Iowa. To this union were born ten children, eight of whom survive the father and mother. The husband, John Thelen, died April 6, 1904. Mrs. Thelen left Alton in 1912 to make her home in California for four years while the youngest daughter attended the university of California. 8 years ago she came to Carroll and remained until her death.

The deceased made friends with ease. Her kindly face and loving consideration brought to her the esteem and adoration of all who were so fortunate to meet her. She was a loving mother, found her greatest pleasure in companionship with her devoted children. Generous of heart and mind she was a wonderful neighbor and friend. The monument of good deeds and right living she builded during the long and eventful life is more enduring than marble. Long will she be remembered by the many who were made happy because she lived.

The surviving children: Anna, Mrs. Odenbrett of Fulda, Minn.; Gertrude, Mrs. Chas. Burdick, Baxter, Ia.; Catherine, Mrs. Math Goergen, Granville, Ia.; M. J. Thelen of this city; Josephine, Mrs. J. J. Kenkel, Avoca, Ia.; John M. Thelen, Great Falls, Mont.; and Rose Mary, Mrs. Clarence Cullimore, Bakersfield, Calif. All of the above were in attendance at the funeral except Mrs. Cullimore who recently visited her mother, and Mrs. Peter Odenbrett.

The remains were taken to Alton Saturday morning where funeral services were held in the Catholic church by Rev. Fr. Brune.—Carroll Herald.

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Her death certificate gives her name as Katherine Thelen; her parents as Peter Teick or Leick and Mary Zender; cause of death (in barely legible handwriting), “Secondary enema[?] Ince[?] to Carcinoma[?]”; contributory cause Coronary[?], duration 8 years.

Other sources, including the Sioux County Cemetery Index, spell her forename Catherine. Birth and marriage records for her children on Ancestry.com generally spell her maiden name Leick, Leik, or Lick, and her forename Katherine or Catherine. The 1925 Iowa state census for Carroll, Iowa gives her parents as Peter Leick and Catharine Sender.

FindaGrave.com gives her parents as Peter Leick (1790-1885) and Catherine Zender Leick (1809-1857); lists a number of siblings and half-siblings; and adds two other children, Maria Thelen (1877-1903) and Peter Joseph Thelen (1890-1976).