Kuester, Albert & Elizabeth Hemmen Krantz family

KUESTER, HEMMEN, KRANTZ, STEINES, RICHTER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/18/2026 at 15:28:29

Albert Kuester 1880 – 1965 & Elizabeth Hemmen Krantz Family

This biography of the Albert Kuester family was taken from a family story in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church book of Granville Iowa page137. 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.

The Albert Kuester story from the St. Joseph’s church book page 137.

Albert Kuester was born February 18, 1880 the son of Chris Kuester and Louise Richter. He married Elizabeth Hemmen Krantz at St. Joseph Church, Granville, Iowa on February 12, 1923. Elizabeth Hemmen Krantz was born on March 10, 1882, and was the daughter of Mathias Hemmen and Elizabeth Steines. They farmed southeast of Granville. Albert passed away on April 22, 1965, and Elizabeth passed away on July 3, 1932. They were the parents of two daughters, Kathryn, born January 31, 1925 and Doralice born Jun 13, 1926.
(end of story in St. Joseph’s church book.)

RESEARCH Note:
Albert Kuester was born 18 Feb 1880 Granville, Iowa died 22 Apr 1965 buried Granville IA. His parents were Heinrich Christian ‘Chris’ Kuester 1852 Cook County IL -1906 Iowa and Louise Geb Richter 1858-1937. Albert married Mrs. Elizabeth (Hemmen) Krantz in February 1923. She had previously been married to John Krantz.

Elizabeth Hemmen Krantz Kuester was born 20 Mar 1882 Iowa died 3 Jul 1939 Granville, Iowa Elizabeth married John Krantz in Feb 5, 1902 in Granville, IA. Elizabeth was the daughter of Mathias Hemmen born 10 Aug 1833 Ehnen, Luxembourg died 2 Mar 1915 Granville IA and Elizabeth Steines born 6 Jun 1851 Sandweiler Luxembourg died 29 Jul 1917 Granville IA . Her first husband, John Krantz was born Feb 1867 Dubuque, IA died 6 Jun 1920 Granville IA buried St. Joseph’s cemetery Granville, IA.

John Krantz and Elizabeth Hemmen had the following children:

1. Mathias H. Krantz ‘Matt’ born 10 Oct 1903 died 19 Dec 1935 buried St. Joes Cemetery Granville IA. He was not married. See his obituary on this web page.

2. Ida E. Krantz born 27 Mar 1905 died 19 Oct 2002 buried St. Mary’s cemetery Alton IA. She married Gilbert Albert Brunsman Oct 1927 Granville IA, they did not have any children. See the obir of Ida Mrs. Gilbert Brunsman on this web page.

3. Elmer Frank Krantz born 22 Mar 1908 died 14 Sep 1979. He married Alvina Schichte, They had one son, John, of Granville; three daughters, Mrs. Roger (Mary Ann) Pottebaum of Alton, Mrs. Ron (Janet) Reuter of Granville, and Mrs. Alan (Linda) Loutsch of Le Mars. See Elmer’s obit on his web page.

4. Rosella A. Krantz born 16 Dec 1910 died 19 Jun 1984 buried in St. Joseph’s cemetery Granville IA. She was not married, see her obit on this web page.

5. Clarence F. Krantz born 9 Jun 1912 died 17 Nov 1985 Granville IA. See his obit on this web page.

6. Armella M. Krantz born 17 Feb 1914 died 27 Mar 1998 buried St. Patrick’s cemetery Sheldon IA She married John Stallman 1912-2000 Sheldon. No Children listed on Find a Grave.

7. Mildred Ida Krantz born 29 Jan 1918 died 1 Nov 1924 Granville IA. See her obit on this web page.

Albert Kuester and Elizabth Hemmen Krantz had two children:

8. Kathleen M. Kuester born 31 Jan 1925 Granville IA died Dec 1986 Granville IA. She married Felix Bernard John Dreckman 1908-1964 One Child listed a Cathy S. Dreckman Langel 1955-2020

9 Doralice Kuester born 13 Jun 1926 Mrs. Jack Ney. See the obit of Jack Ney on this web page for her family story. They had two daughters Marlene (Arlin) Pottebaum of Hospers, Carol Jean (Tom) Vortherms of Sioux City, and one son, Steve (Julie) Ney, of Primghar, 

OBITUARY of Albert Kuester 1880-1965

Source: Alton Democrat (4-29-1965) Born: February 18, 1880 Died: April 22, 1965
Albert Kuester, 85, life long resident of the Granville community, passed away Thursday evening at 8:00 o’clock at the Orange City Hospital where he had been a patient for the last four months. He was born February 18, 1880 on a farm southeast of Granville.
He was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Krantz in February 1924. She passed away July 3, 1939. The past 14 years he resided in Granville with his daughter, Mrs. Jack Ney.
Funeral services were held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Granville, Monday morning at 10:00 o’clock. Reverend N.J. Becker officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Rosary was recited at 8:00 o’clock Saturday evening at the Fisch Funeral Home and Sunday evening at Spalding Hall in Granville.
He is survived by his two daughters, Mrs. Kathleen Dreckman, (Doralice) Mrs. Jack Ney, three granddaughters-- Mrs. (Marlene Ney) Arlin Pottebaum of Hospers, Carol Jean Ney and Cathy Dreckman, one grandson, Steven John Ney; also five step-children (Ida) Mrs. Gilbert Brunsmann of Alton, (Armella) Mrs. John Stallman of Sheldon, Rosella Krantz, Elmer and Clarence Krantz, all of Granville.
He was preceded in death by his wife, two step-children, Matt and Mildred Krantz, a son-in-law, his parents, three brothers, two sisters and one sister-in-law. Pallbearers were Tony Hunt, Ed Richter, Emil Fisch, Pete Klein, Hank Klein, and Nic Didier

OBITUARY of Elizabeth Hemmen, Krantz Mrs. Albert Kuester 1882-1939

Kuester , Elizabeth born 20 Mar 1882 died 3 Jul 1939 buried in St. Joseph’s cemetery Granville IA .
Marriage record has Elizabeth Krantz nee’ Hemmen age 41 born 1882 LeMars IA living at Granville, married 12 Feb 1923 Granville IA Parents Matias Hemmen and Elizabeth Krantz, husband Albert Henry Kuester.
Also see obit of Albert Kuester 1880-1965
Research found that Elizabeth Hemmen was first married to John Krantz 1867-1920, they had seven children.

OBITUARY of Elizabeth Kuester
July 3, 1939. The Alton Democrat of July 13th 1939 page 3 had an obituary of Elizabeth Kuester, however the digital copy is very fuzzy. Elizabeth Kuester was the daughter of the late Mr and Mrs. Matt Hemmen. She was born in Sioux County on ….1882 Here is what could be revealed.
Mrs. Elizabeth Krantz Kuester passed away at her home and at the time of her death 57? years ..months and 17 days old. She married in the parental home un…. First marriage to John Krantz on Feb 5, 1902? Seven children were born to this union. Four daughters and three sons namely, Matt, Hug… and …. Mrs. Gill… Brunsman, …. of Alton, Roselia, Z… and Mi…. She was preceded in death by her husband died June … 1926? and two children Matt Krantz and Mildred Krantz.
She married Albert Kuester on Feb 12, 1904? and to this union two daughters were born. Kathleen and Dorelice. She is mourned by her husband and two daughters from this marriage. She was an active member of St. Joseph’s church and a member for many years for the Catholic Mother‘s ’society. She is survived by two brothers, Will Hemmen of Dell Rapids, Frank Hemmen of Granville and by one sister , Mrs. Nic Luse of Sleepy Eye, MN. One sister Mrs. Matt Haupert, proceeded her in death in 19.. Pall bearers were six nephews, followed by list of many attendance.

If anyone has an early family history story to add contact the coordinator of this page.
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A family photo from Ancestry.com public member trees is shared.
This is the John Krantz family. Elizabeth Hemmen’s first husband.
The wife in this picture is Elizabeth nee’ Hemmen Krantz wife of John Krantz, who was her first husband pictured with their Krantz children.  She is, one and the same as, Elizabeth Hemmen Krantz Kuester who married Albert Kuester after John Krantz died. Their story is described in the narrative above.   

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