Annie (Charlson) Thorsbakken (1866-1919)

CHARLSON, THORSBAKKEN, ODSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/6/2024 at 13:40:44

From Story City Herald April 24, 1919 (page 3)

OBITUARIES

Mrs. John Thorsbakken

Mrs. John Thorsbakken whose death was recorded in the Herald of last week, was born on a farm three mile northeast of Story City, July 12, 1866, her parents, Barney and Ingeborg Charlson, being among the early settlers of this community. Here she grew to womanhood, and she spent the most of her life in or near Story City.

On June 1, 1895, she was united in marriage to John Thorsbakken and to this union eight children were born, who now, with their father, mourn the loss of a very affectionate wife and mother.

The children are Leonard, Mrs. C. Odson, Inger, Clara, Hannah, Martin, Beatrice and Esther, and with the exception of Mrs. Odson, who lives at Jewell, they are all at home. Besides her immediate family she leaves to mourn her departure a brother, Erick Charlson of Fargo, N. D., and a host of relatives and friends.

Mrs. Thorsbakken died at Iowa City April 8, after having undergone what seemed to be a successful operation about three weeks prior to her death. She had almost recovered and expected to be home within a few days, when death suddenly called her away, the cause of her death being embolism or obstruction in the circulation by a blood clot.

The funeral services, which took place at the St. Petri church of which deceased was a faithful and active member, was conducted by Rev. Heimarck, assisted by the Revs. Wendel and Paulsrud, all of whom spoke words of appreciation of the Christian enthusiasm and unselfish service that characterized the departed sister, and also words of sympathy and comfort to the widowed husband and the motherless children.

The texts taken by the various preachers at the funeral bore eloquent testimony of the impress that the life of the deceased had made upon those with whom she had come in contact. Rev. Heimarck chose the words "She hath done what she could," as the basis of his remarks, and Rev. Wendel dwelt on the lovable New Testament character, "Dorcas." Rev. Paulsrud also spoke feelingly of the virtues of the departed. And truly it can be said of Mrs. Thorsbakken that, while she was a friend to everybody, she had a particularly tender heart for the poor and unfortunate, and he hand was always open to assist those in need. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that her funeral was one of the largest and that the floral tributes were very numerous.