Koob, Barney 1869 -1964 & Anna Drees Family

KOOB, DREES, KETTLER, KOKENGE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/7/2026 at 15:40:02

Koob, Barney 1869-1964 & Anna Drees Family

This biography of the Barney Koob and Anna Drees family was taken from a family story in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church book of Granville Iowa page131. It was further researched and composed by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society.

The full narrative including additions to the church book story were made from various sources including records from the web site www.iagenweb.org/sioux; family reports and vitals collected from ancestry.com records and ancestry’s public member trees, Find A Grave index, internet searches and various local archives.

Disclaimer: Names, dates and places may vary from one source to another, but have been stated in this biography as presented in the source. Family data taken from ancestry.com public member trees is subject to the submitter of data to ancestry.com and was not fully verified by this submitter.

Barney Koob family story from the St. Joseph’s church book page 131. Some information was added to the children’s information in this story by the submitter and is enclosed in parenthesis ( ).

Barney, the second child of Nicholas and Margaret (Kettler) Koob, was born April 30, 1869 at St. Donatus, Iowa. He moved with this parents to Alton, Iowa in 1871. He attended Wagner School in the area.
Barney married Anna Drees on January 28, 1896 in St. Boniface Church, New Vienna, Iowa. Anna was the oldest child of John and Maria (Kokenge) Drees, born December 21, 1873 at New Vienna, Iowa. They farmed and lived with his parents two years near Alton, Iowa. In 1898 they moved on a farm three miles north and one half west of Granville, presently farmed by Dennis Koob. In 1943 they retired and moved to Granville. They were the parents of ten children. Barney and Anna celebrated their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries. Anna passed away on November 11, 1956 at the age of 83 and Barney passed away on July 1, 1964 at the age of 95. Their children are:

Nicholas Koob was born October 24, 1896 at Alton, Iowa. He married Irene Perlot on January 31, 1921 at Granville. She was the daughter of Michael and Mary Haupert Perlot. She was born on March 31, 1902. They had one daughter, Geraldine. Nicholas passed away on February 18, 1954 and Irene passed away on July 4, 1967 at Granville. (Geraldine was born 30 Jan 1927 Granville, married Donald Fredrick Menke 1926-2002.) (See Nicholas’ obituary on this web page. )

Margaret Koob was born January 11, 1898 at Alton. She married John Hodapp on November 20, 1922 at Granville. He was the son of Michael and Mary Berger Hodapp and was born on December 27, 1898. Their children are Orville 1924-1925, Emmett 1926-1981and Vernis (Perret 1932-2019). John passed away June 10, 1962 and Margaret passed away on October 15, 1964 at Granville. (See Marygaret’s obituary - Hodapp, Margaret Mrs. John 1898-1964 on this web page.)

John Frank Koob was born March 5, 1900 (Sioux County) and passed away on May 22, 1944 at Granville. (No family – See his obituary on this web page. )

Raymond Koob was born November 15, 1902 Granville IA . He married Rose Schwebach on September 28, 1936 at Granville. She was the Daughter of Nicholas and Anne Thorman Schwebach. She was born on August 9, 1909. their children are Carol (Koob Ann Voetberg 1938-2013) , Nancy Koob (1941-2019 Paullina IA), and Sharon Koob Wallace (1943-2012 Primghar). Raymond passed away August 10, 1972. Rose makes her home in Paulina, Iowa. (See Raymond obituary on this web page

Leonard Koob was born December 4, 1904 and passed away June 23, 1906 at Granville.

Marina Koob was born May 21, 1907. She married Arnold Nemmers on January 5, 1931 at Granville. (She died 21 Aug 1993 buried St. Joseph’s Granville) He was the son of Peter and Josephine Steffen Nemmers and was born on April 1, 1905. Their children are Beverly, Ardell, Sheryl and Paulette. See (Marina’s obituary on this web page - Nemmers, Marina Mrs. Arnold 1907-1993 for more information)

Leo ‘Jim’ was born July 27, 1909 and passed away on July 14, 1958 at Granville.

Edwin Koob was born October 8, 1913. He married Rosalia Ney on November 11, 1941 at Granville. She was the daughter of John and Mary Klein Ney and was born on May 8, 1920, their children are Larry, Lee, Jerry and Mary Ann. Edwin passed away on September 20, 1982 Granville IA.(See the obit of Edwin on this web page for more family information)

Milo Koob was born February 1, 1918 (died 4 Jun 2003 buried St. Joesph Cemetery Granville IA ). He married Frances Ney on November 11, 1943 at Granville. She was the daughter of John and Mary Klein Ney. She was born on February 1, 1922. Their children are Sam, Rosemary, Marg, Shirley, Dennis, Patty, Dale and Kristy. (See the obituary of Milo Koob on this web page for more family information.)

Francis was born July 22, 1920 and passed away on February 7, 1986 at Granville. (See the obituary of Francis on this web page)
(end of the Koob family story in the St. Joseph’s church book)

RESEARCH Notes: Find A Grave
Bernard ‘Barney’ Koob was born 30 Apr 1869 St. Donatus, Jackson County Iowa died 1 Jul 1964 Orange City Iowa buried St. Joseph Cemetery Granville IA His parents were Nicholas Joseph Koob born Oct 1838 Kehlen, Canton Capellen, Luxembourg died 7 May 1921 Alton IA buried St. Mary’s Cemetery Alton IA; and Anna Margaret Kettler born 15 Jul 1840 Luxembourg died 20 Jun 1926 Alton Iowa. Barney married Maria Anna Drees 2 Jan 1896 St. Boniface, New Vienna IA. See the obits of Barney’s parents Nicholas Koob and wife Anna at the end of this narrative.

Maria Anna Francisca Drees was born 21 Dec 1873 New Vienna, Dubuque IA died 11 Nov 1956 Granville, Iowa Her parents were Johann Henry Drees born 13 Aug 1851 Dyersville, Dubuque IA died 4 Apr 1920 Dyersville, IA buried New Vienna IA and Mary Ann Kokenge born 25 Nov 1851 Cincinnati, OH died 23 Aug 1910 Granvile IA buried St Boniface Cemetery New Vienna IA.

CHILDREN: See the above story from the St. Joseph’s church book for family information on the children of Barney Koob and Mary Anna Drees.

OBITUARY of Barney Koob 1869-1964

Alton Democrat of July 9, 1964
Barney Koob, Granville's Oldest Resident Passes On
Barney Koob, 95, passed away in the Orange City hospital at 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, July 1st, after being a patient for two and a half weeks following a stroke. Funeral services were held at St. .Joseph's Catholic church, Granville, Friday morning at 10:00 o'clock Rev. N. J. Becker, officiating
Barney Koob was born April 30, 1869 at St. Donatus, Iowa, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nick Koob and moved with his parents when a small boy to a farm between Alton and Granville. On January 28, 1896 he was united in marriage to Anna Drees at New Vienna, Iowa and came to the home of his parents with whom they resided for several years, before moving to a farm north of Granville, where they resided for several years, before moving to Granville in 1944. Mrs. Koob passed away Nov. 11, 1956 and since then his son Francis has been in charge of the household and cared for his father, who was able to be up and around until he was taken to the hospital.
He is survived by two daughters and four sons, Margaret Hodapp, (Marina) Mrs. A. H. Nemmers, Ray, Edwin, Milo and Frances Koob and one daughter-in-law, Mrs. Irene Koob, 20 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his wife, four sons, Nick, John, Leonard, Leo, his parents, one brother, two sisters. He was the last surviving member of his family. Rosary was recited at Spalding Hall Thursday evening at 8:00 o'clock.

OBITUARY of Anna (Mrs. Barney Koob) 1873-1956
Source: Alton Democrat (11-16-1956) Born: December 21, 1873 Died: November 11, 1956 Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at 9:30 at St. Joseph Church, Granville. Reverend N.J. Becker officiating, for Mrs. Barney Koob, 82, who passed away at her home Sunday morning at 1:30 following a long illness.
Anna Drees was born December 21, 1873 at New Vienna, Iowa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John and Mary Ann (Kokenge) Drees. When a young girl she came to Alton and kept house for her uncle, Henry Kokenge. On January 28, 1896 she was married to Barney Koob of Alton, at New Vienna. They made their home on a farm east of Alton, for several years, before moving to a farm northwest of Granville, where they resided until moving to Granville about 13 years ago.
Surviving are the widower, two daughters, Margaret (Mrs. John Hodapp), Marina (Mrs. Arnold Nemmers), 5 sons, Ray, Lou, Edwin, Milo and Francis all of Granville, one brother, John Drees of Hospers, one sister, Mrs. Rose Sudmeier of Denver, Colorado, 19 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Mrs. Mary Schindler, three sons, Nick, John, and Leonard.
Pallbearers were George Schneider, Ted Ney, Nick Becker, John Thelen, Paul Diederich and Henry Ricke.

OBITUARY of the father of Barney Koob - Nicholas Koob 1838-1921
Source: Alton Democrat (7-14-1921) Born: 1838 Died: July 5, 1921
Nicholas Koob, one of the earliest settlers in Sioux County, died July 5th at his home in Alton, at the age of 83. He had been suffering for many months from ailments common to old age and the end came suddenly.
The deceased was born in Luxemberg in 1838 and came with his parents to this country in 1863, locating in eastern Iowa. He was married to Miss Anna Margaret Kettler and the two moved to Sioux County in 1872. Four years ago Mr. and Mrs. Koob celebrated their Golden Wedding.
Mr. Koob is survived by his wife and three children. Koob, Anna Margretha born 1840 died 1926 husband Nickolas buried in St. Mary’s cemetery Alton IA as listed in the Sioux county Iowa cemetery index.

OBITUARY of Margaret Mrs. Nickolas Koob 1840-1926
Alton Democrat of June 25, 1926 Mrs. Margaret Koob, one of Sioux County's earliest settlers,, passed away at three o'clock Sunday morning at the home of her daughter. Mrs. Elizabeth Konz. Mrs. Koob was 85 years and 11 months old.
She was born In Emsburen. Hanover, Germany, and in 1863 came to the United States with a younger brother, Theodore Kettler, coming to St. Donatus where they had relatives. She was married in 1866 later to Nicholas Koob and the couple came to the Alton vicinity in the early seventies, farming near here for many years. They later moved to Alton where Mr. Koob passed away on July 5th 1922.
Mrs. Koob is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Konz, and two sons Barney Koob of Granville and Frank Koob of Canada. A second daughter Mrs. Peter Kramer of Wilmont MN passed away in 1918. She also has on sister living Mr. Mayr Wolbers of LaMotte IA and two brothers, Theodore Kettler now in South Dakota and Bernard Kettler of Alton.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, of which Mrs. Koob was a devoted member. Fr. Klein of LeMars was in charge. A long list of out of town people who attended the funeral followed.

Note: If anyone has an early family story to share contact this page’s coordinator. .

This picture of Barney and Anna Drees Koob is from the St. Joseph’s church book page 131.

Sioux Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen