Obit. Wenner, Anna (1851-1930)
The closing chapter of another honorable and lengthy career on earth was written Monday [September 15] when the body of Mrs. Henry Wenner, a pioneer of this community and one of its oldest residents, was given to the grave in St. Mary's cemetery following solemn services in St. Mary's Catholic church. Mrs. Wenner died at the family home here just before noon last Friday [September 12th], following a long term of sickness with disease complications which had afflicted her for nearly a year. She was nearly 79 years old, and was a native of eastern Iowa but had lived here for more than half a century. Surviving are her husband, 10 children and one brother.
Mrs. Wenner was taken sick several days before Christmas last year and for two months, her condition was grave and but little hopes were held out for her recovery. Tenderly and with loving care the children ministered to her in co-operation with efficient professional aid and advice until she slowly began to rally and again reach a stage in which she was able to leave the sick room. For five months she was able to be about the house although she was still under medical care, and six weeks ago her condition again took a sudden turn for the worse and it became apparent that she was approaching the end of her days upon earth. Spiritually fortified with the last sacred rites of the Catholic church of which she was a life-long and devoted member, her spirit took flight at 11:45 o'clock Friday forenoon, with her family of devoted children at her bedside.
The deceased, formerly Anna Faber, was a member of a pioneer family of the vicinity of Cascade, Iowa, where she was born on October 18, 1851. It was on January 26, 1870, that Anna Faber and Henry Wenner drove a team and buggy over 26 miles of prairie trail to the town of Dyersville, Iowa, to be married. The ceremony was performed by the late Rev. Kortenkamp, an old friend of the family and who is still well remembered by the older residents here who hall from that part of the state.
Mr. and Mrs. Wenner spent four years on a farm near Cascade, and in 1874 – fifty-six years ago –became residents of Plymouth county. They settled on land two miles southwest of Oyens then owned by the pioneer Churchill family, but soon thereafter bought 80 acres from the railroad company, in Meadow township, at but $7.00 per acre. However, they continued to reside on the Churchill farm for two years, after which they came to their own place which they subsequently increased in size and quality to 340 acres that under their skillful management became one of the best cultivated and improved farms in Northwestern Iowa. The land was still in its virgin state and Mr. Wenner guided the first plow over the prairie land in this territory which was but sparsely settled. He still recalls the fact that there was but one house between this first place of residence southwest of Oyens, and his Meadow township farm. This lone dwelling was located two miles west of the present Remsen cemetery corner and was occupied by a Mrs. Gibson. The place is now owned by the Bohlke family. The first building ever erected on the present side of Remsen was a depot which was burned down before the Wenner's arrived, and at that time there wasn't a single sign of habitation here save for the old depot ruins. Not a trail ran across the unbroken prairie, and the few farmers were obliged to take trees, boulders, creeks and other objects of nature as guiding on their travels to Le Mars, their nearest marketing place. Corn and grains were hauled in sacks, and often when the farmer reached a creek, he was obliged to unload before driving through the creek bed, and reload after the horses and vehicle had reached the other side.
The Meadow township farm was the family home for 27 years and in 1903, Mr. and Mrs. Wenner took advantage of the opportunity that years of toil and careful management had presented, and retired. They chose to spend their remaining days in Remsen, the town which blossomed forth after their arrival; the town they called their trading point and which they helped to nourish in its infancy and to develop into one of the most flourishing in this part of the state for half a century.
Mrs. Wenner was one of those splendid women of the old school, who regarded family ties and spiritual welfare as paramount in the enjoyment of a happy life, and as such she was regarded as one of the outstanding Christian women of the community. Reared in the atmosphere of family love and Christian righteousness, she passed her early stamped traits on to her children and throughout her life held their welfare above all else of a worldly nature. In the early days of their wedded life she proved a valuable helpmate to her energetic husband and in return it was rightfully allotted to her to share with him more than a quarter of a century of life in ease and retirement as a reward for their strenuous tolls as early day builders of the community. Mrs. Wenner was possessed of a deeply religious nature, and this trait was reflected in her daily association with her family and her contact with her many friends. The sorrowing husband and children have the sympathy of their army of Iowa friends, and those who have more frequently come in contact with Mrs. Wenner and the family feel most grievously the loss of a true and loving friends and worthy citizen.
She was the mother of 11 children, one of whom, Mrs. Catherine Lamberto, preceded her to the grave 30 years ago. The surviving children, who with their father share the pangs of sorrow over the departure of a most excellent and devoted mother, are: Mrs. Leo Alesch, Le Mars; Mrs. F.N. Tritz, Mrs. Jos. Keffeler, and Mrs. Nick Treinen, Remsen, and Mrs. George Hefner, Sioux City; Mrs. N.B. Homan, Remsen; Mrs. N.J. Kellen, Le Mars; Mrs. Peter J. Homan and Mrs. A.M. Beck, Remsen, and Henry Wenner Jr. Sioux City. There are 50 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Her brother is Mathew Faber, living at Cascade, Iowa, the old family home.
Funeral services in St. Mary's Catholic church Monday morning were conducted by the Rev. H.J. Schleier, who paid a splendid tribute to the deceased in the course of an impressive sermon. They body was laid to rest in St. Mary's cemetery, the following grandsons of the deceased serving at pallbearers: Gordon Tritz, Joseph Alesch, Maurice Keffeler, Gordon Homan, Marion Treinen and Norbert Kellen. Flower bearers were grand daughters – Katherine Keffeler, Maybelle Homan, Reta Beck, Harriet Kellen, Myra Keffeler and Mary Ellen Wenner.
The funeral mass was largely attended and hundreds of old friends joined the family in paying their last earthly mark of respect and esteem of one who been prominent in the life of this community for more than half a century.
The following relatives from a distance joined the mourners at the last sad rites: Mathew Faber, Mrs. Margaret Faber and Mr. and Mrs. John Weber, Cascade, Iowa; Mrs. Edgar Erlinger and Mrs. Nick Kirsch and son Otto, Worthington, Iowa; Mrs. Lou Weber, Woodworth, Canada; Mr. and Mrs. Nick Minten and Mr. and Mrs. Mike Even, Alton; Mr. and Mrs. Al. Meis, Mr. and Mrs. George Schnepf and Mr. and Mrs. O.H. Keffeler, Le Mars.
-- Remsen Bell-Enterprise, Thursday, September 18, 1930, pages 1 & 8