Learn Details Of M. Heinsen Death

Home At Kennard Once The Center Of Danish Church Life

Martin Heinsen, 82, a brief notice of whose death in Dickson, Alberta, Canada, was published in last week’s Pilot-Tribune, had become one of the outstanding men in his community and a leader in church and civic affairs during the past 20 years, according to Canadian newspapers.

Mr. Heinsen, remembered by scores of Blair and Kennard residents, operated a hardware in the latter town for 20 years prior to 1911 when he moved to Canada. He once owned the farm which later became the Kennard cemetery and the Heinsen home for years was a center for Danish church life.

The account of Mr. Heinsen’s life, as published in the Canadian paper, follows:

“The late Mr. Heinsen, was born April 12, 1850, at Branderup, Schleisvig, Denmark. At the age of 20, when war broke out between Germany and France, not wanting to fight for Germany (his district of Denmark in the meantime having been conquered by German), he went to the United States. He settled first in Chicago and later at Kennard. In 1878 he was married to Magdalena Peterson and their home in Kennard became a center for church activities. Mrs. Heinsen died in 1905 and was buried at Kennard.

“Surviving him are his son, H. F. Heinsen, and family. The funeral was one of the largest in the history of the Dickson district, the church being crowded to the doors with sorrowing friends.

“The deceased came to Dickson in 1911 and had since become one of the outstanding men of his community, in church and civic matters, and was beloved by all who knew him.”

Note: Buried in Dickson Cemetery, Red Deer Census Division, Alberta, Canada. Find a Grave # 129526087

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