In the death of Hans Rathjen, last Sunday at Calhoun, Washington county lost an esteemed citizen and one of its oldest pioneers. Mr. Rathjen lacked only four years of rounding out a century and leaves a host of warm personal friends who remember him as a good citizen and a kind generous neighbor. His funeral took place Tuesday. Rev. John Luepke officiated.

Republican 22 Oct 1903

H. Rathjen died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. A. Asmussen, last Sunday and the funeral was held at the house at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon. Rev. J. Lupke of this city, officiating. Mr. Rathjen was 96 years of age, that is within a couple of months, and was probably the oldest man in the county.

Pilot 28 Oct 1903

Hans Nichols Rathjen was nearly 96 years old, born in Germany and came to Washington county thirty years ago, making his home among his children, Nicholas and Charles Rathjen and Mrs. Asmus Asmusen. Forty-eight teams came to town with the body to the Ft. Calhoun cemetery, Rev. J. Lupke, Lutheran minister at Blair, officiating. The record of those faithful ones, who have brought aged parents from Germany and cared for them till death is quite a long one in this neighborhood and they have all made a record that those sons and daughters are all today very proud of.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~