Marienau, Verdena “Dena” (Mrs. William C.), 1875-1940

MARIENAU, BRAAKS, ROHMANN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/13/2022 at 07:13:58

From the Alton Democrat, April 12, 1940:

Mrs. Marineau Passes at Truman, Minn.

Word was received at Ireton early Sunday of the death of Mrs. Dena Marineau of Truman, Minn., who passed away at a Mankato hospital. Deceased was 65 years of age, the mother of twelve grown children, and a former resident of the Ireton community. Funeral services were held at Truman Tuesday, the following from here attending the last rites: Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Braaks, son Louis and daughter Erma, Mr. and Mrs. B. Muilenburg, Mrs. Louise Kluter and children, Mr. and Mrs. C. Braaks and daughter. Burial was made at Truman beside the remains of her husband who passed away some years ago.

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From the Hawarden Independent, April 11, 1940:

Death Claims Former Resident

Mrs. Verdena Marienau, 64, well known resident of Ireton and vicinity for many years, died Sunday in the Immanuel hospital at Mankato, Minn., after a lingering illness caused by diabetes and complications. Funeral services were held Tuesday in St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Truman with Rev. J. Hasse and Rev. W. Schultz in charge. Interment was in Truman.

Verdena Braaks, daughter of Habbe and Karoline Romann, was born June 14, 1875, at Ost Friesland, Germany, and came to America with her parents when she was twelve years old. The family located in Ireton and she was united in marriage with William C. Marienau February 7, 1893. In 1907 they moved to Wilcox, Neb., where they resided two years and then returned to Ireton and lived here and in Plymouth county for several years. In 1918 they moved to Truman, Minn., and farmed near there until the death of her husband in 1930.

Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Marienau, all of whom survive. They are Mrs. Karoline Gronemeyer, Preston township, Plymouth county; Henry of Ireton; Walter of New Ulm, Minn.; Otto of Los Angeles, Calif.; Mrs. Anna Wolrabe and Mrs. Wilma Larsen of Amboy, Minn.; Mrs. Mable Reinke of Fairmont, Minn.; Alvin, Carl and Paul of Mankato, Minn.; Mrs. Viola Weyen of Hawarden; Mrs. Esther Popken of Akron, and Mrs. Leona Borchers of LeMars. There are 29 grandchildren. She is also survived by her mother, Mrs. H. W. Braaks of Ireton, five sisters and many other relatives.

Mrs. Marienau was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Truman and active in community and social life. She was a devoted mother and home maker.

Mr. and Mrs. John Popken and Mr. and Mrs. Gene Gabel of Akron, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gronemeyer of Craig, Mr. and Mrs. Eilert Borchers, Mrs. Walter Painton and Miss Velma Gronemeyer of LeMars, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Marienau, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Braaks, Mr. and Mrs. Bas Muilenburg, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Braaks and Mrs. Louisa Kluter of Ireton and Mrs. Henry Weyen of Hawarden attended the funeral.

(A similar obituary was published in the Truman Tribune, April 11, 1940.)

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RESEARCH NOTES

Minnesota death certificate 1940-MN-001190 (informant A. L. Marienau), has Verdena F. Marienau, husband William C. Marienau; born June 14, 1876 in Hanover, Germany, parents Harvey Brakss and Charlotte Romaine; occupation housewife, last worked 1938; resident in Mankato, Minnesota 7 years 6 months; died in Imanual Hospital, Mankato, at 7:18 p.m., April 1940; cause, multiple abscesses in genitals and lower abdomen duration 3 months; contributory cause, diabetes mellitus, unknown duration; buried in Truman, Minnesota.

Her FindaGrave.com page has Verdena Henrietta Frederike Braaks Marienau; born 14 June 1875 in Pewsum, Landkreis Aurich, Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), Germany; died 6 April 1940 in Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.; buried in Saint Pauls Lutheran Cemetery, Truman, Martin County, Minn. Father Habbe Wiards Braaks (1845-1923). Husband William Carl Marienau (1867-1930). Children Caroline G. Marienau Gronemeyer (1893-1957), Henry Fredrick Marienau (1895-1975), Walter Carl Marienau (1896-1965), Anna Louise Marienau Wohlrabe (1899-1968), Alvin Bernard Marienau (1901-1984), Carl William Marienau (1911-1980). There is a photo of the joint headstone of her and her husband.

The Sioux County marriage register for 1893 has groom William C. Marienau, age 26, resident of Ireton, a farmer, born in Litchfield, Ill., parents Heinrich Marienau and Charlotte Wildmann; bride Wiardina H. F. Braaks, age 18, residence Ireton, born in Germany, parents Heinrich Braaks and Friedericke Rohmann; married in Ireton February 7, 1893.

In the 1930 U.S. census (April 11) for Waverly Township, Martin County, Minnesota, Dena Marineau is listed as head of household, married (but no husband listed, he had died in January), a farmer, with her sons Carl (19) and Paul (14) and daughter Wilma (16). Her immigration year is given as 1888. In the 1940 census for Mankato, Minn., taken April 3 (just before her death), she (as Verdena), age 64, is living with her son Alvin L. (39, widowed), an automobile salesman, and his son Dennis; they had lived in the same place in 1935.