Katie Mehrens Passes Away At Good Shepherd

Katie Mehrens, well known former resident of Fort Calhoun, passed away on February 20th at Good Shepherd Home in Blair, just six months from reaching the 100th anniversary of her birth. She had been a resident of Good Shepherd since October 1969.

Katie was born August 12, 1885 on a farm west of Fort Calhoun to Jacob and Marie (Rohwer) Mehrens. Her early life was spent on the family farm where she became closely associated with the beauty of nature and a love of animals. The fall season and the month of October was her favorite time of year.

After the family moved to Fort Calhoun she joined the Fort Calhoun Woman’s Club, where she spent many hours helping in the library which was sponsored by the club. For thirty years she devoted each Sunday afternoon at the Washington County Historical Museum, beginning with its founding by her maternal uncle, Henry Rohwer, one of its organizers.

She was a member of the Fort Calhoun Presbyterian Church for more than fifty years, and several years ago she was honored with a 50-year pin by Naomi Chapter 121 of the Order of Eastern Star.

Katie was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Claus B. and Henry Mehrens. She is survived by three nieces, Shirley Rice of Savannah, Georgia; Norma Russold of Rock Springs, Wyoming; and Anita Mehrens of Fort Calhoun; and one nephew, Harry L. Mehrens of Watsonville, California.

Funeral services were Friday, February 22nd at the Fort Calhoun Presbyterian Church, and interment was at Fort Calhoun Cemetery. Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home was in charge.