Johann Henriettee Empen 1895-1988

EMPEN LUDWIGSEN HENNINGSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 7/7/2011 at 23:44:47

Funeral Services Held Monday For Johanne Empen

Funeral services for Johanne H. Empen, 92, of Lawton, were held Monday, April 4, 1988 at 1:00 p.m. in the Bethel Lutheran Church in Lawton. The Rev. Merle Labahn officiated. Interment was in Banner Township Cemetery, Lawton, under the direction of the Wavrin Funeral Home of Moville.

Susan Wiens, solist, sang “Jesus Savior Pilot Me.” The congregation sang “Just As I Am” and “Without One Plea.” Judy Lebahn was organist.

Casketbearers were Messers Uve Schultz, Walter Deichmann, Harold Robinson, Leo Loftus, Wallace Sorensen and Bernard Washburn.

Johanne Henriette Henningsen, the daughter of Johannes and Henriette (Ludwigsen) Henningsen was born June 25, 1895 in the village of Nebel, on the island of Amrum, Schleswig Holstein, West Germany. She married Carl Empen of Nordstrandt, Schleswig Holstein, Germany, February 11, 1919 at St. Clements Lutheran Church in Nebel, Amrum. Carl Empen came to the United States in 1921. Johanne and their daughter, Carmen joined him in 1923. The family farmed in the Lawton community until March, 1950 when illness forced Carl to retire. They moved to the town of Lawton. He died December 3, 1950.

IN the early 1950’s Johanne worked as a nurses’ aid at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital during the polio epidemic. From 1955 until 1962 she worked as a cook at the Lawton School. She was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church and a member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League of the Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Oskar (Carmen) Klein of Lawton; two grandsons and one great-granddaughter.