Wathen, Fred Joseph 1880 - 1956

WATHEN, CARTER, BISCHKE

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 6/25/2025 at 05:26:10

Clayton County Register, 02 Aug. 1956.

Fred Joseph Wathen, long time resident of Garber and Elkport, died suddenly Friday, July 27, 1956, at the age of 76 years and 17 days.

He was the son of Joseph Wathen and Mary (Carter) Wathen, born on a farm near Millville, Iowa, on July 10, 1880. Shortly after he and his parents moved to Garber, Iowa. He was a baptized member of St. John's E & R church at Garber.

On February 06, 1907, he was united in marriage to Alma Bischke. They had two children, a son Louis and a daughter Mae.

In August of 1936, death came to Louis after a lingering illness.

In October, 1945, his wife Alma died suddenly from a heart attack. Others who preceded him in death besides his wife and son were his parents, three sisters, four brothers, two half-brothers, and a half-sister.

Mr. Wathen had suffered much illness during his life and had undergone several operations.

At one time he operated restaurants and butcher shops in Garber and Elkport. He also operated a general store in Garber. At the time of his death he was a car salesman and more or less had carried on this occupation all his life.

He died Friday conducting a car sale at Edgewood.

Survivors are one daughter, Mae, several nieces and nephews.

Services were conducted in the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church at Garber on Monday, July 30. The Rhines funeral home of Edgewood was in charge of arrangements, and burial was in Mount Harmony cemetery. Richard Kauppinen was the pastor in charge. Pallbearers were J. P. Zapf of Littleport, Frank Feidt of Garnavillo, Ira Bissell of Elkport, Arthur Willman, Edmund Feidt, and Earl Brown, of Garber.