John Fredrick Grabbe Dies At 104 Tuesday

Services were Friday, July 18, at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church for John Fredrick Grabbe who died Tuesday, July 15, 1980, at the age of 104, at Good Shepherd Home. Rev. John Peterson conducted services. Burial was in the Blair Cemetery.

John Fredrick Grabbe was born September 27, 1875, at Blair to Max and Magdalena Tiefel Grabbe. The family farmed near Blair and he assisted on the farm as a young man.

In January of 1902, he married Anna Maria Hovendick. They lived on a sizable farm in the Spiker area for 44 years. In 1969, they were recognized as the oldest married couple (67 years of marriage) as Blair celebrated its Centennial year. Grabbe, then almost 94, was also recognized as the oldest lifelong male resident.

Upon deciding to retire, the couple moved to Blair and lived at 2267 Nebraska Street, where they lived until Mrs. Grabbe’s death in 1971. Mr. Grabbe then lived with his son, Fred Grabbe, Jr., for several years before going to live at Good Shepherd Home.

While reminiscing on his 100th birthday, a newspaper report said that he told of taking a covered wagon and two loads of lumber from Blair to Sargent, Nebraska, with Jim Tarleton, at the age of 17. The two walked all the way during the mild winter trip to make the load lighter for the two teams they had.

He recalled carrying mail for about 1 ½ years from Blair to the stores housing post offices in Orum, Spiker and Vacoma. The trip was made three times a week and he stayed the night at Vacoma, and bringing the out-going mail back on his return trip. He also recalled delivering mail on the Fourth of July, because “that was the day the mail was supposed to go out”.

Four children and five brothers and sisters, in addition to his wife, preceded him in death.

He is survived by two sons, John Fredrick, and Leland Grabbe, both of Blair; and two daughters, Mrs. George Heinssen, Blair, and Mrs. Wm. (Hildred) Wiese, Uehling, Nebraska. Seventeen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren also survive him.

Pallbearers were Fredrick Heinssen, Gerald Brand, James Grabbe, Rick Grabbe, Ellis Babbitt and Eldon Babbitt.

Clare Cowing was organist. Lois Carlsen was vocalist.

Campbell Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements for the services.