Aeiko KOENEN

KOENEN, BLANKMAN, KADUCE, BLAU, DIRKS, BOELMAN, FROHLING

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/28/2007 at 15:46:02

Mason City Globe Gazette
ca. November 1935

Funeral services for Aeiko Koenen were held Wednesday, at First Reformed Church, Meservey. Rev. E. Kampman in charge, assisted by Rev. O.G. Poppen. The Choir, consisting of K.C. Ruigh, Dick Dirks, Mesdames E. Kampman, J.R. Schmidt, Louis Minders and Anna Bonte, who sang "I Am A Pilgrim", Wie Wier Uns Sien" and "When Morning Light Is Bright". Pallbearers were Frank Hofferman, H.J. Pais, Ben Vierkant, Henry Van Oster, Harm Dirks and Ben Gruis.

Aeiko Koenen was born in Ockenhausen, Oestfriesland, Germany, Aug. 10, 1858. In the year 1875 he left his homeland and journeyed to America, making his home in the state of Illinois where he lived 2 years. Later he moved to Ackley, Iowa where the departed lived for 8 years. The rest of his life, he spent in the vicinity of Chapin and Meservey, where he engaged in farming.
On Oct. 28, 1883 he was united in marriage to Trientja (nee) Blankman. To this union 12 children 12 children were born, six sons and six daughters, of which one daughter, Dena (Mrs. Tony Boelman) preceded the father in death ten years ago. Also 3 brothers and 2 sisters. His wife passed away October 27, 1929.

The deceased was a member of Meservey Reformed Church into whose fellowship he was received at the time the Church was organized and where he has been a member until his death. He helped start the Meservey Reformed Church. On Aug. 31, 1902, a small group of people met in the home of Aeiko Koenen in Meservey for the purpose of starting a mission station in the village of Meservey. Rev. A.J. Reeverts conducted the meeting, using for his text "And The Word Of God Increased" Acts 6:7. From that time on,preaching services were held regularly. Toward the last of life of the departed, his health began to fail and the weakness of old age began to increase. He finally passed away at his home on Nov. 10, 1935, at the age of 77 years and three months.

He leaves to mourn his departure the bereaved children; six sons, Harm, John, Jake, Joe, Aeiko and Henry of Meservey; five daughters, Mrs. Henry Dirks, Mrs. William Kaduce, Mrs. Fred Blau of Meservey, Mrs. Herman Frohling of Belmond, Mrs. George Blau of Belmond; besides three brothers, Herman, Henry and Aise Koenen of Latimer; 45 grandchildren; and 4 great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.