CHRISTIAN TRANBERG DIES AT AGE OF 100

Farmer Resident Observed Century Mark Last June

Christian Tranberg, former resident of Blair, and for many years a farmer near here, died Saturday evening at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Chris Nielsen near Remsen, Iowa, at the age of one hundred.

He had not been ill - his boast was that he had never been kept in bed a day by illness, but shortly before his death, it being apparent that he was gradually growing weaker.

Funeral services are held Tuesday afternoon at the First Lutheran church in Blair, with the pastor Rev. James N. Lund officiating. Burial was in the Blair cemetery.

Surviving are the daughter, Mrs. Nielsen, and about twenty grandchildren.

Rigors of poverty-stricken childhood in Denmark, a lifetime of unremitting toil; arduous military and naval service, and participation in the historic battle of Helgoland, may not be conducive to longevity, but had his life been easier, Mr. Tranerg would have never reached his hundredth birthday he always said.

Since his 95th birthday, Mr. Tranberg had looked forward to a centenary party, and relatives from Iowa and Nebraska gathered at the Nielsen home June 14 to pay tribute.

Born of impoverished parents, his childhood was one of want and destitution. For three years, three days a week, he was permitted to attend school, walking four miles each way. At thirteen he was thrown upon his own resources. He became a swine herder, an arduous task for a child since the country was heavily wooded. His clothes were tattered - until he was a grown man, he never owned an overcoat - and he recalls intense suffering during the winters.

In 1856 he entered military service and in 1863, when war with Germany threatened, he was transferred to the Danish marines and assigned to the frigate Jutland.

Of all his recollections, none was more vivid than the decisive naval engagement at Helgoland May 9, 1864, between Danish and German battleships. The Germans were finally forced to withdraw with a heavy loss of men and Mr. Tranberg, nearly seventy years later, still became excited when he told of the victory.

In the four hours that the battle lasted he said the ship fired 800 shots from it’s cannons, and of the twelve men stationed at the gun that Tranberg was helping to operate, three were killed. He was unhurt, but he admitted that the possibilities of him ever reaching a hundred weren’t bright that day.

In November, 1864, he was discharged from the service and received a decoration from the Danish government for gallantry in remaining at his post. He was also given a pension.

Married in 1868, the Tranbergs came to America in 1893, locating on a farm between Blair and Kennard where they lived until Mrs. Tranberg’s death in 1914. He moved to Blair and in 1916 was again married, his second wife dying in 1920. He lived alone until 1929 when he moved to Remsen.

Most prized among Mr. Tranberg’s possessions was the award given him by the king of Denmark in 1929, following a service at the First Lutheran church in Blair. It was a medal for distinguished service to Denmark - literally translated it means “Man of Dannebrog”.

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

FindaGrave # 119806354