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Herman Gerken (1819-1875)
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| Anna (Kunkel) Keffeler (1880-1945) was a daughter of Frank and Margaret (Gerken) Kunkel. Anna was a first cousin to my grandfather, Ewald Gerken. Both Anna's mother Margaret and stepmother Sophia were sisters to Henry Gerken, my great-grandfather. T.L. | ||||
Dominic and Anna (Kunkel) Keffeler
Anna Maria Catherine Kunkel was born on January 22, 1880, at Dyersville, Iowa, the third of seven children born to Frank and Margaret (Gerken) Kunkel. Her siblings were William, Barbara, Amelia, Edward, Margaret "Meta," and Paula. Their aunt Sophia Gerken, Margaret's younger sister, joined the household, as Sophia, at age thirteen, had gone to live with the Kunkels to housekeep after Herman Gerken, Margaret's and Sophia's father, died in 1875. The family moved into Dyersville circa 1887. Margaret Kunkel died in 1896, and Sophia had continued on in the household, after having helped the family out during the illness that led to her sister's death. Subsequently, in 1900, Frank Kunkel married Sophia Gerken, and Sophia, who had been acting as a second mother for many years to the children, was now their stepmother.
Anna spent almost her entire life in the Dyersville vicinity and received her education in the St. Francis schools there.
Marriage to Dominic Keffeler.
On August 28, 1907, Anna Kunkel was united in marriage with Dominic Keffeler of Lansing, Iowa, at St. Francis Xavier Church in Dyersville, Iowa, with Monsignor Theodore Warning officiating. Dominic, also called Demmie or D.J., was born on July 9, 1878, son of Dominic and Margaret (Rottler) Keffeler at Lansing, Iowa.
The young couple took up their abode at Waukon, Iowa, where they lived for three years, before returning to live in Dubuque County, at Dyersville. Dominic Keffler was an insurance broker, from which he retired circa 1947.
Dominica and Anna Keffeler had four children: Margaret Keffeler, Edward Keffeler, Herbert Keffeler, and Mary Jane Keffeler.
Anna (Kunkel) Keffeler dies.
Mother's Wish Granted; Sees Son Before Death.
Three hours after she gazed upon the sun-tanned face of her son, a sergeant in the Air Corps, whom she had not seen in three years, Mrs. Dominic Keffeler peacefully passed away. A prayer she had cherished for several months had come to life and now she was content to die.
Her son, Sgt. Herbert Keffeler, arrived home Saturday afternoon, July 28, 1945, at 1:30 o'clock, and three hours after the joy of that reunion, Mrs. Keffeler was united in peace with her Maker. It had been her wish for some time that she might see her son before her death, and her wish was granted.
Mrs. Keffeler had been in ill health for the past several years, but her death still came as a shock to all who knew her. Anna Keffeler was a devoted wife and kind mother and a staunch member of the Catholic church. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and of the Rosary Society.
She was survived by her husband; two sons, Edward and Sgt. Herbert, who returned from the South Pacific; two daughters, Mrs. Nick (Margaret) Gross of Dyersville and Mrs. Ernest (Mary Jane) Carpenter, Jr., of Earlville, Ia.; four grandchildren; three sisters, Paula Kunkel of Ossian, Ia., and Mrs. Meta Beckmann and Mrs. Ed. Ament of Dyersville; and one brother, Rev. Father W.A. Kunkel of Maquoketa, Ia. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, and one sister.
Funeral Services.
Funeral services were held from the Kramer Funeral Home to St. Francis Xavier Church, where a Solemn Requiem High Mass was sung for the repose of her soul at nine o'clock, Tuesday morning, July 31. Rev. Will Kunkel of Maquoketa, brother of the deceased, celebrated the Mass, assisted by Rev. N.U. Keffeler of Watkins, Iowa, as deacon and Rev. H.N. Ginter of Temple Hill, Iowa, as subdeacon. Rev. John J. Pitzen served as master of ceremonies. Burial was made in St. Francis Cemetery with the Rev. Keffeler officiating at the graveside services.
Honorary pallbearers, all members of the Catholic Daughters of America, were Ceil Jaeger, Mrs. Jol Jaeger, Mrs. C.J. Lippert, Mrs. Ella Klassen, Mrs. Mrs. Louis Sudmeier, and Mrs. Fred Walker. Active casket bearers were Jol Jaeger, Gilbert Nesler, H.B. Willenborg, Roy McMahon, George Helle, and William Drexler.
Out of Town Relatives.
Out of town relatives attending the funeral were Rev. W.A. Kunkel of Maquoketa, Ia.; Rev. N.U. Keffeler of Watkins, Ia.; Rev. N. Ginter of Temple Hill, Ia.; Miss Paula Kunkel of Ossian, Ia.; Mrs. Karl Hanson, daughter Carol of Fayette, Ia.; Ernest Carpenter, Jr., of Earlville, Ia.; Mrs. Rueben Taylor, daughter Patricia of Des Moines, Ia.; Jake Keffeler of Mound City, Kansas; T/Sgt. James Stuff of Camp Shelby, Miss.; Mr. and Mrs. George Stein, daughter Esther and Ruth of Lansing, Ia.; Mr. and Mrs. Clete Ferring of Lancaster, Wis.; Mrs. LeRoy Morgan of Whiting, Ind.; Miss Agnes Bochand of Watkins, Ia.; Miss Winnifred Holzer of Maquoketa; George Ament, SF 2/cl, U.S. Navy, of Hawthorne, Nevada; and Mrs. Theresa Haggerty and Miss Ella Klassen of Dubuque, Ia.
Dominic Keffeler dies.
Dominic J. Keffeler, 72, of Dyersville, Iowa, died Tuesday morning, April 10, 1951, at a hospital in Dubuque, Iowa, after an illness of two months.
Funeral services were held at 9 a.m., Friday, April 13, from the Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville to St. Francis Xavier Church there. Burial was in the church cemetery.
He was survived by two daughters, Mrs. Nick (Margaret) Gross, of Tujunga, Calif., and Mrs. Ernie (Mary Jane) Carpenter, Jr., of Earlville, Ia.; two sons, Edward Keffeler, of Dyersville, Ia., and Herb Keffeler, of Pasadena, Calif.; five grandchildren; five sisters, Mrs. Reuben (Agatha) Taylor, of Des Moines, Ia., Mrs. Josephine Widmeier, of Tulsa, Okla., Mrs. Floyd (Helena) Stallsmith, of Dubuque, Ia., Mrs. Karl (Clara) Hanson, of Fayette, Ia., and Mrs. O.I. (Jeanette) Waters, of Mound City, Kans. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Anna Kunkel.
Children of Dominic and Anna (Kunkel) Keffeler:
- Margaret Mary Keffeler was born on May 22, 1908, in Waukon, Iowa, daughter of Dominic and Anna (Kunkel) Keffeler. Margaret Keffeler married Nicholas Joseph Gross. Nicholas Gross was born on August 18, 1909, son of Peter and Emma (Lenhoff) Gross at Cascade, Iowa. Nick and Margaret Gross had three children, Gary Nicholas Gross, David Anthony Gross, and Margaret "Margie" Ann Gross. Nick and Margaret lived at Dyersville, Iowa, and later at Brookdale, California.
Nicholas Gross, 69, died on October 3, 1978, in Bend, Oregon. Margaret Mary Gross, 71, died on June 20, 1979, in Bend, Oregon.
- Edward Kunkel Keffeler was born on August 5, 1911, son of Dominic and Anna (Kunkel) Keffeler. Edward Keffeler married Opal May (Kohls) Beckmann on July 29, 1952, in Hopkinton, Iowa. Opal Kohls was born on May 24, 1920, in Waterloo, Iowa, daughter of Gustav R. and Bertha M. (Kramer) Kohls.
Opal was previously married, to Paul B. Beckmann (who was a cousin of Edward Keffeler), in April 1942, in Nashua, Iowa, and they farmed outside of Monticello, Iowa. Paul and Opal Beckmann had four children: Charles, Marilyn, Barbara, and Margaret Beckmann. Paul Beckmann died in December 1948 and was buried in Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Castle Grove Township, Jones County, Iowa. .
Edward and Opal Keffeler made their home in Dyersville, Iowa, where they were members of St. Francis Parish. Edward and Opal Keffeler had three children: David John Keffeler, Lynn Marie Keffeler, and Sarah Jean Keffeler. Opal, a homemaker, was an active volunteer at St. Francis; she served as Regent from 1969 to 1973 and from 1975 to 1977 during her 45 years in the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She also enjoyed many hours with The Knitters Club.Edward K. Keffeler, 65, of Dyersville, Iowa, died at 4 a.m., Tuesday, May 31, 1977, at Finley Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 2, at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, with burial in the church cemetery. Family and friends called after 2 p.m., Wednesday, June 1, at the Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where the Scripture Wake Service was held at 8 p.m.
He was survived by his wife, the former Opal Kohls; five daughters, Mrs. Lawrence (Marilyn) Lyons, and Lynn Keffeler, both of Dubuque, Ia., Mrs. Dennis (Barbara) Davidson, of Minneapolis, Minn., Mrs. Bruce (Margaret) Walker, of Waterloo, Ia., and Sara Keffeler, of Dyersville, Ia.; two sons, Charles Beckman, of San Diego, Calif., and David Keffeler, of Cedar Falls, Ia.; two sisters, Mrs. Ernest (Mary Jane) Carpenter, of Earlville, Ia., and Mrs. Nick (Margaret) Gross, of Brookdale, Calif.Opal M. Keffeler, 83, of Dyersville, Iowa, died Wednesday, October 29, 2003, at Heritage Manor in Dubuque, Iowa, after a brief illness. Family and friends called from 3 to 8 p.m., Friday, October 31, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where there was a parish scripture service at 3:30 p.m., and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas rosary was recited at 4 p.m. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 1, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, with the Rev. Monsignor Ed Petty officiating. Burial was in St. Francis Cemetery.
Mrs. Keffeler was survived by her children, Charles (Jenny) Beckman, of San Diego, Barbara (Dennis) Davidson, of Roseville, Minn., Meg (Bruce) Walker, of Vinton, David Keffeler, of Cedar Falls, and Lynn (Kevin Schwendinger) Keffeler and Sarah (Will) Keffeler-Gibson, both of Dyersville; four grandchildren, Ann Walker, Olivia Schwendinger and Caitlin and Jordyn Gibson; a son-in-law, Larry Lyons, of Dubuque; and a sister-in-law, Anita Keffeler, of Paradise, Calif. She was preceded in death by her husbands, her parents; a daughter, Marilyn Lyons; a brother, Harry Kohls; and a sister, Mabel Williams. - Herbert W. Keffeler was born on July 4, 1914, son of Dominic and Anna (Kunkel) Keffeler. During World War II, Herb Keffeler was a sergeant in the Air Corps and served in the South Pacific. Herbert Keffeler married Anita Mae Koopman on August 16, 1945, in Dyersville, Iowa. Herb and Anita had been high school sweethearts. Anita Koopman was born on July 30, 1916, in Dubuque, Iowa, daughter of August and Therese (Schockemoehl) Koopman.Anita was raised in Dyersville, Iowa, and after her graduation from school, Anita attended college and became a country school teacher.
Herb and Anita Keffeler moved to Southern California, where Anita worked as a legal secretary for a Los Angeles law firm. After reading an ad in the Los Angeles Times about the wonders of Northern California, Herb and Anita made a trip to Paradise. They fell in love and moved immediately, starting a chicken ranch in 1951. That same year the first of two sons, Michael, was born, followed by Donald on June 16, 1954. While Anita raised the boys, Herb took a job with the U.S. Post Office as a rural letter carrier, where he stayed for 24 years. After raising their children, Anita returned to her profession, joining the Paradise law firm of McKernan and Lanam for 18 years. Upon retiring, Anita and Herb enjoyed their many friends, social activities, and opportunities to serve the Paradise community. Anita was a member the Agenda Club, Beta Sigma Phi, St. Anne's, which was affiliated with St. Thomas More Church, and was an avid bridge player. Anita contracted macular degeneration in 1998. Undaunted, she expanded her travels to include numerous family trips to the Pacific Northwest. She never failed to remain loyal to her church and bridge club.Herbert W. Keffeler, 74, of Paradise, California, died on September 3, 1988.
Anita M. Keffeler, 89, of Paradise, California, died Friday, July 14, 2006. A memorial service was held at 10 a.m., Monday July 24, at St Thomas More Catholic Church, followed by a reception at the Paradise Elks Club. Memorial contributions were directed to the Society for the Blind.
Mrs. Keffeler was survived by her son Michael and his wife Carol of Vancouver, Washington, all well as many relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband Herbert Keffeler, in 1988, and her son Donald Peter Keffeler, on December 31, 1973. - Mary Jane Keffeler was born on April 24, 1919*, daughter of Dominic and Anna (Kunkel) Keffeler. Mary Jane Keffeler married Ernest M. Carpenter on November 28, 1940, at Dyersville, Iowa. Ernest Carpenter was born on December 13, 1917, in Earlville, Iowa, son of Ernest Sr. and Hilda (Schmitt) Carpenter. Ernest and Mary Jane Carpenter farmed in the Earlville, Iowa, area until their retirement in 1978. Ernest and Mary Jane Carpenter had two children, Phyllis Carpenter and Ellen Carpenter. They also raised many foster children. They had a Panamanian foreign exchange student for a year named Gloria Fuentes-Ho. This relationship became a lifelong friendship. They were members of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Dyersville, Iowa. Mary Jane was also a member of the Queen of Angels prayer group.
* = April 24 according to her obituary that appeared in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald; April 25 according to an online SSDI.Mary Jane (Keffeler) Carpenter, 83, of Dyersville, Iowa, died Monday, November 25, 2002, at Mercy Medical Center in Dyersville, Iowa, after a brief illness.. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 29, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, with burial in St. Francis Cemetery. Family and friends called from 2 to 8 p.m., Thursday, November 28, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where there was a parish rosary at 4:30 p.m.
Mrs. Carpenter was survived by her husband, Ernie; two daughters, Phyllis Slick, of Luck, Wis., and Ellen (Wayne) Oberbroeckling, of Clear Lake, Ia.; two grandsons, Vaughn (Sandra) Slick, of Hammond, Wis., and Michael (Christel) Oberbroeckling, of Altoona, Ia.; a granddaughter, Michelle (Brad) Watson, of Clear Lake, Ia.; and seven great-grandchildren, John and Jay Slick, Megan, Scott and Joel Watson, and Bailey and Cassidy Oberbroeckling. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Eddie and Herb Keffeler; and a sister, Margaret Gross.Ernest M. Carpenter, 84, of Dyersville, Iowa, died Saturday, November 30, 2002, at Mercy Medical Center in Dyersville, after a brief illness. Family and friends called from 2 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, December 3, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where there was a parish rosary at 4 p.m. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 4, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, and burial was in the church cemetery.
Mr. Carpenter was survived by two daughters, Phyllis Slick, of Luck, Wis., and Ellen (Wayne) Oberbroeckling, of Clear Lake, Ia..; two grandsons, Vaughn (Sandra) Slick, of Hammond, Wis., and Michael (Christel) Oberbroeckling, of Altoona, Ia.; a granddaughter, Michelle (Brad) Watson, of Clear Lake, Ia.; seven great-grandchildren, John and Jay Slick, Megan, Scott and Joel Watson, and Bailey and Cassidy Oberbroeckling. He was preceded in death by his wife, on Nov. 25, 2002; three brothers, Francis, Floyd and Donald Carpenter (Donald was killed in active duty during World War II); and two sisters, Delpha Gull and Jenny Gillmore.
Sources include obituaries from the Dyersville Commercial and the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, and Keffeler Klan 1 at http://www.gencircles.com/users/pattaylor/1. Obituary information from the Paradise Post for Anita Keffeler was obtained online at http://www.legacy.com.
Click here for the Gerken family history contents page.
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© 2003-09
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tdlarson/gerken/kunkel/anna.htm |
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