Bessie (Keraus) WATERMAN

KERAUS, WATERMAN, PROCHASKA, WILCOX, MITCHELL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:43

January 8, 1898 ---- November 30, 1952

Bessie Waterman was born January 8, 1898, on a farm near Hampton, Iowa, the youngest of eight children born to her parents, Charles F. Keraus and Antonia P. Prochaska Keraus. Four of her brothers and sisters died as infants and three survive. Bessie acquired her grade school education at Hayfield, Iowa, and continued her school studies at the Klemme Public School.

She became a member of the English Methodist Church at Klemme, by confirmation, always sang in the church choir, sang at many funerals, and taught a Sunday School class as long as her health permitted. She was a member of the Naomi Circle of the Women's Society of Christian Service, as an Eastern Star, a Royal Neighbor, and held membership in various local social groups.

On September 16, 1918, at the age of twenty, Bessie Keraus and Clarence G. Waterman were married at the home of the bride's parents, by the Rev. J. M. Howdeshell. They commenced housekeeping in Klemme and continued to live here. In these thirty-four years. they certainly "took root" and became a vital part of our community, and an influence for good.

They became the parents of two daughters, Ardice Lucile, who died as an infant in 1928. and Marian who survives. Bessie Waterman was always healthy and active, and had a pleasing personality, but several years ago she noticed a numbness in her feet, which continued to grow progressively worse. For a few years she used a wheel chair. Even then she was pleasant to everyone. Finally, this creeping paralysis became serious and in spite of all that good doctors and good care could do, the end came. This occurred early Sunday morning, November 30, 1952, at the Belmond Hospital.

She reached the age of 54 years, 10 months and 22 days, and leaves to mourn her passing, her husband, Clarence G. Waterman; one daughter Marian, Mrs. Lyle Wilcox, Spencer, Iowa; one sister, Rose, Mrs. Tom Mitchell, Swea City, Iowa; two brothers, Wm. C. Keraus, Klemme, Iowa, and Jess Keraus, Aberdeen, South Dakota, and a host of more distant relatives and friends.

CASKET BEARERS
George Lawhorn
Clarence Kluckhohn
Sumner Trumbell
P. S. Tompkins
A. J. Kudje
A. R. Arnold

Interment on the family lot
Ell Township Cemetery
Klemme, Iowa

Wellemeyer Funeral Service
Klemme, Iowa

source: funeral card