Mrs. Chas. Rathjen, for years a resident of Calhoun, died at her home on last Thursday at an advanced age. Deceased was a woman of sincere Christian character and leaves besides her two sons, John and Theodore, a number of friends who mourn her loss.

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at the Presbyterian church in Calhoun and interment was made in the Calhoun cemetery.

#2 Printed in the Tribune, March 27, 1924 MRS. CHARLES RATHJEN

Ft. Calhoun on March 15, 1924, lost one of the most useful and well loved German mothers in the city, her husband dying after a long illness, August 22, 1922. The months of constant care and anxiety left her in such feeble health that she never recovered. She was buried near her husband March 18 1924, from the Presbyterian church, Rev. Koepke, the Lutheran pastor at Ponca creek, officiating. The anthems were rendered by Miss Edith Neale, and Mrs. Elsie Cook who had for years been so many times companion with Mrs. Rathjen in choir and social work, was at the piano.

Miss Maria L. Feldhusen was the daughter of August and Johanna Feldhusen, and was born in Nerden on the Otter in Hanover, Germany, September 24, 1866. She arrived in Ft. Calhoun in 1895 to be near her two brothers, Carl, a merchant, school director, and mayor of this city, and his brother, August Feldhusen, an Omaha merchant.

She leaves two sons, John, the city electrician, and Theodore, in a garage here, both in their teens, and respected by all who know them.

Her brother, Carl, is now the government expert on potato flour with a mill in Idaho.

The pall bearers were Jacob Sierk, Henry Rohwer, George Rohwer, Sr., W. Neuman, William Frahm, and Henry Fuhrman, among the choicest friends of the family.

Nearly ever since the day she came she has been noted as a pianist and choir singer. We don’t know how many times we have asked her to play or sing on some special occasion and we never knew her to refuse if it was possible for her to go, whether the music or song was in German or English or whether rich or poor, it made no difference, although the greater part brought no revenue.

In spite of the snow blocked and bad roads farmers came for miles to the funeral. Every seat in the Presbyterian church was full in both rooms and a great many standing in all the aisles. We were only able to stay a few minutes and of course did not get to the cemetery. Husband and wife were both fine friends of ours and always ready to do us a kindness. She was a great flower lover and her friends did not forget it.

W. H. Woods

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

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