MRS. JAPP, 89, DIES AT KENNARD

HAD ATTENDED DAUGHTER'S GOLDEN WEDDING

Mrs. Catherine Japp, 89, head of a five-generation group, who two years ago had the unique experience of being present at her daughter's 50th wedding anniversary celebration, died early last Thursday after being ill most of the time since February. She was the mother of 12 children, 11 of whom survive her.

Native of Germany and a resident of Kennard and vicinity since 1871, Mrs. Japp's activities long belied her advanced age. She daily tended her extensive garden in season and was one of the village's most enthusiastic flower fanciers. She read constantly, consuming a large supply of newspapers, magazines and books. She followed until her final illness a hobby of long standing -- piecing quilt tops for gifts. Every summer for years she and her son Ed had driven to Wyoming and Colorado to visit her children while escaping the hot weather at home.

SCHOOLED IN GERMANY

Catherine Weise, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Asmus Weise, was born at Holstein, Germany, November 9, 1852, and received her education there. The Weise family came to Davenport, Iowa, in 1865.

In 1869 she and John Japp were married and immediately left Davenport for Omaha, the trip requiring two weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Japp resided in Omaha and Douglas county until the spring of 1871, when they moved to a homestead four miles southwest of Kennard, where they remained 12 years. They then moved to the farm southwest of Kennard now operated by her son, Ed. About 40 years ago they moved into Kennard.

One of the Japps' children, Emil, died September 21, 1899. Mr. Japp died may 9, 1916.

Surviving mrs. Japp are six sons, John of Padroni, Colorado, George of Upton, Wyoming, Ernest of Gillette, Wyoming, William and August of farms near Kennard, and Ed, at home; five daughters, Mrs. Charles Schneider of the Wranch vicinity, at whose recent golden wedding the aged mother was present, Mrs. J. Henry Miller, Mrs. Buck Rosenbaum, and Mrs. E. Sherman Anderson, all of Kennard, and Mrs. Leslie White of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

MANY SURVIVORS

There are 54 surviving grandchildren, 69 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Other survivors include a brother, Rudolph Weise, sr.

Mrs. Japp became suddenly ill last February and was rushed to a Fremont hospital for care, later returning home. She was up and around for a few weeks before she became ill again and was taken to Blair hospital for a four-week stay, since which time she had been in bed at home under the constant care of her daughters, Mrs. Rosenbuam and Mrs. Anderson.

Funeral services were held at the Kennard Methodist church Sunday afternoon, the Rev. E.P. Booher of Cedar Bluffs officiating. A large throng of relatives and friends attended the rites. Mrs. Ethel Mead Byrd of Alabama sang, with her sister, Miss Gertrude Mead of Blair, at the piano.

Pallbearers were six grandsons: George and Fritz Japp, Charles Schneider, jr., Henry Miller, jr., John Anderson and Harry Rosenbaum. Burial was in the German cemetery north of Bennington, by the side of her husband.

#2-9 July, 1942 - The Enterprise - Catherine Japp

DEATH CLAIMS MRS. C. JAPP, 89, OF KENNARD

Old Settler Was Mother Of Twelve, Had Lived In County Since 1871

Mrs. Catherine Japp of Kennard, county resident since 1871, died at her home early last Thursday morning, July 2, after nearly ninety years of full and happy living. An entire community, which knew her affectionately as “Grandma” Japp, mourns her passing.

Only two years after Nebraska had joined the Union - 4 years following the close of the Civil War - Mrs. Japp was a bride of twenty two years. The epic of Indian-inhabited prairie, gradually transforming into productive farming communities and cities, was a part of her daily life. And not content with merely watching the young state’s struggle for existence, Mrs. Japp and her husband braved hardships unknown today to homestead Washington County land.

As Catherine Wiese she was born in Holstein, Germany in November 9, 1852, and there she received her education. She with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Asmus Wiese, and her brothers, Rudolph, Henry and George, came to Davenport, Iowa to made their home in 1865.

In 1869 she married John Japp; immediately following the wedding ceremony the young couple left Davenport for Omaha, a journey which took two weeks at that time. They resided in Omaha and Douglas County until the spring of 1871, then moved to a homestead four miles southeast of Kennard where they lived for 12 years. In 1883 they moved to the farm southeast of Kennard which is now operated by a son, Ed; for the past forty years Mrs. Japp had been a resident of Kennard.

Mrs. Japp was the mother of twelve children, eleven of whom survive. They are John of Padroni, Colorado; George of Upton, Wyoming; Ernest of Gillette, Wyoming; William and August of the Kennard vicinity; Ed at home; Mrs. Charles Schneider of the Wranch vicinity; Mrs. J. Henry Miller, Mrs. Buck Rosenbaum and Mrs. E. Sherman Anderson of Kennard; and Mrs. Leslie White of Cheyenne, Wyoming. One brother, Rudolph Wiese, also survives as do 54 grandchildren, 69 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. A member of a five generation family while her father was still alive, Mrs. Japp had been the head of such a family herself for the past six years. She leaves 137 direct descendants.

The husband, who died in 1916, and a son, Emil, who passed away in 1899, preceded her in death.

Mrs. Japp was a great lover of flowers and her garden and lawn were filled with growing things each summer. Besides caring for her garden, she spent much time reading newspapers, magazines and books. During the winter she took a great deal of pleasure in piecing quilt tops as gifts for her friends. She was a seasoned traveler too, and for the past twenty years she and her son, Ed, had driven to Wyoming and Colorado to spend the hottest months with relatives in a cooler clime.

In exceptionally good health for one of her years, Mrs. Japp was not taken ill until last February when she was rushed to a Fremont hospital for care. Later she returned home and was up and around for a few weeks before she became ill again. She was a patient at Blair Hospital for more than a month; since then she had been bedfast at her home where she was cared for by her daughters, Mrs. Buck Rosenbaum and Mrs. Sherman Anderson.

A final benediction upon this long and eventful life was spoken Sunday afternoon when funeral services were held at the Kennard Methodist church; Rev. E. P. Booher of Cedar Bluffs, former Kennard pastor, was in charge of the rites. Burial was made in the German cemetery. Pallbearers were Mrs. Japp’s grandsons, Fritz Japp, George Japp, Henry Miller, Charles Schneider, Jr., Harry Rosenbaum and John Anderson.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #38827776