Christina Louise Stienecker was born 10 December 1843 and baptized 17 January 1844 at Hopewell, Warren County, MO, daughter of Johan Heinrich Wilhelm and Anna Sophia Elisabeth (Peterjohann) Stienecker. Her birth and baptismal entries in Immanuel/Immanuels records of p. 85 list parents as Wilhelm Stieneker and Sophie Peterjohans; Godparent was Christina Kuck, her grandmother.

Her grandparents Stienecker were buried at Immanuel/Immanuels UCC Cemetery, Holstein, MO. Her mother, Sophia (Peterjohann) Stienecker (gravestone photo to right), and a brother were buried at Ebenezer "Stone" Church Cemetery, Lyon Township, Franklin County, MO.

Louisa Stienecker married Henry Stille 18 Oct 1861; marriage recorded in Warren County, MO. The Stille family lived for some time in Franklin County, MO, and moved to Hancock County, IA, in 1874. After Mr. Stille's death in 1883, Louisa Stille married the Reverend Gotlieb Haefner in Nov 1896 at Hancock Co., IA. Mrs. Haefner died 24 Apr 1941. She was buried at the side of her first husband, Henry Stille, in Liberty Cemetery; her father, William Steneker, was also buried in Liberty Cemetery.

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FUNERAL RITES FOR AGED KLEMME WOMAN SUNDAY, 27TH

MRS. GOTTLIEB HAEFNER PASSED AWAY THURSDAY, APR 24, AT THE AGE OF 96

Special to Garner Ledger and Signal

Klemme ---Louisa Stinieker was born Dec. 10, 1844, on a farm in Warren county, MO. Her parents, William Stieneker and Christina Fiegenbaum Stinieker were natives of Germany. Her four brothers, Henry, Herman, William, and Ernest, and one sister, Mrs. Henry Woker, all preceded her in death.

She attended the rural schools and became a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church at Warrenton, MO.

At the age of 18 years she became the wife of Henry Stille. At this time they both joined the Methodist church. After five years on a farm they sold out and bought a mil at Demolt [?], Mo. They ground wheat into flour, sawed logs and also operated a wool carding plant.

Sever, years later, in 1874, they sold the mill and came to Hancock county, locating on a farm where the Liberty church now stands. This farm was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stille and family of six children for many years. In 1893, after nine years of farming, Mr. Stille died at the age of 48. Mrs. Stille operated the farm for 10 years, when she moved to Klemme, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Frank Greutzmacher.

In 1897 at the age of 53 she married the Rev. Gotlieb Haefner, who was pastor of the German Methodist church in KLemme. The Rev and Mrs. Haefner served congregations at Parker, SoD., St. Charles, Flood … after which they retired and spent the rest of their days in Klemme. On July 4, 1925, the Rev. Mr. Haefner, 88, died and was buried beside his former wife in the Liberty township cemetery; and now, 16 years later, Apr. 24, 1941, Mrs. Haefner, too, has passed away at the age of 96 years, 4 months and 4 days.

She was a clear thinker, a hard worker, a careful manager and her long life has been a blessing to this community. She leaves 60 direct descendants. They are: three daughters, Mrs. Minnie Schuldt, Mrs. Lizzie Greutzmacher and Mrs. Emma Terhufen; three sons, Will, Herman, and J E. Stille; 17 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; and eight great, great grandchildren.

Pall bearers were six grandsons: Wesley Schuldt, Lester Stille, Harvey Stille, Harold Greutzmacher, Glenn Terhufen and Howard Terhufen. Services were held in the Methodist church Sunday afternoon, with the Rev. Wm. Zabilka in charge. Burial was in Liberty township cemetery beside her first husband, Henry Stille. (April 1941: specific newspaper unknown; from jtwaddingham1 Family Tree on Ancestry)

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Birth year, maiden name spelling, and maiden name of Mrs. Stille-Haefner's mother vary by source. Her obituary lists her mother as Christine (Fiegenbaum) Stieneker. Respectfully submitted: This Christine was actually a sister to her mother with maiden name of Peterjohann, the same as Mrs. Stille-Haefner's mother. This Christine (Peterjohann) Fiegenbaum (1796-1871), aunt of Mrs. Stille-Haefner, was buried in Concord Cemetery, Garner, Hancock, Iowa.

Thanks go to Stienecker descendants Lorene (Steiniker) Olmstad and Arlene (Stoltenberg) Gilbert for their assistance. Errors of entry are responsibility of Jane Denny. Headstone photos in Liberty Cemetery were taken in 2006 and are courtesy of descendant Arlene Gilbert.