Albert E. Haafke

HAAFKE MCCABE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 8/26/2010 at 20:41:05

History of Woodbury County 1984

Albert E Haafke
By Bernice Haafke Bruntz

Albert E Haafke was the first child born to Edward and Henrietta Haafke. His place of birth was Koenigsberg, East Prussia, and he came to the United States at the age of three or four. His birthday is June 2, 1869. They first lived in Douglas County, Nebraska, and then Sioux City. In 1879, the family moved northwest of Bronson and it is here that Albert attended Elliot Creek School.

It is not known at what age he left home, but it has been stated that he was fourteen years old.

At the age of 24, Albert purchased his first land from Alexander Barlow on November 6, 1893. He was a successful farmer. He never owned a tractor, and did all of his farming with horses and with the help of hired men. He loved to work with livestock.

Albert Haafke married Helen Philomena ‘Minnie’ McCabe on October 15, 1914, in the St Joseph Rectory at Salix, Iowa. Five children were born to them, of which only one child survived to adulthood. Alma Marie was born in 1916 and passed away in 1922 of pneumonia. Albert, Jr, was born on Octobe r12, 1920, and died of diphtheria in 1921. They died six weeks apart. Two baby girls were stillborn on July 29, 1915, and October 8, 1918. The children’s deaths were a tragedy for Albert and Minnie. They loved children and did many lovely things for other youngsters. Bernice was born March 6, 1926, and is still living.

Albert was a very hard working man, but also took time to visit with his neighbors. Albert passed away on May 28, 1933, of a renal failure. Although he made several trips to Rochester, there was only a limited knowledge of cures for diseases; this was quite different form today’s medical advances. Albert was lacking three days from his 64th birthday when he passed away.

Minnie and Bernice lived on the farm for one year, moved to Sioux City for one year, and then returned to the farm in 1935. They again moved to Sioux City in the summer of 1941. They were members of the Cathedral of the Epiphany Church.

After several years of suffering from ill health, Minnie died on June 24, 1944, of a heart attack. She was sixty years of age.

Bernice was married to Benjamin ‘Ben’ W Bruntz on January 9, 1951. They live on the Albert Haafke farm. They have two children, David Joseph, adopted, was born on May 24, 1955. He has a child, Jason David who was born on November 22, 1976. Mary Sue was born December 25, 1956. Mary is single and is attending Nurses’ Training in Sioux City.

Bernice Bruntz passed away April 20, 1984.