Herman and Mary (Gerken) Kerkhoff

Mary Gerken was born in Hegensdorf, Westphalia, Prussia, on May 19, 1849, the first of the eight children born to Herman and Mary Catherine (Schulte) Gerken. Given the name Anna Maria at birth, she would be ever known as Mary. She came to this country with her parents when only a year and a half old. Tragedy was averted on the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean when someone caught her by the dress as she was falling overboard. The Gerken family came directly to New Vienna, Iowa. Her brothers and sisters, all born at New Vienna, were Margaret, William, Henry, Caroline, Herman, Sophia, and Louis. Mary spent practically her entire lifetime in the vicinity of New Vienna. Her early education was received in the parochial school in New Vienna, and it was there she grew to womanhood.

Mary Gerken marries Herman Kerkhoff.
On November 26, 1872, Mary Gerken married Herman Kerkhoff at St. Francis Church in Dyersville, with the Reverend Father Anton Kortenkamp officiating. The attendants included the bride's sister Margaret Gerken, Mrs. Caspar Klosterman, the bride's brother William Gerken, and Henry Jasper.

Herman Kerkhoff.
Herman Kerkhoff was born on November 12, 1843, at Lette, near Muenster, Prussia, and south of Coesfeld. He came to America in 1867, settling at Dyersville. He worked for two years at farming and then for four years with his brother Bernard.

After marriage Herman and Mary Kerkhoff moved onto the farm he had bought, three and a half miles south of Petersburg. At his death in 1875, Herman Gerken had also willed his daughter Mary a piece of land in Delaware County that he valued at $3000, one thousand of which was to be Mary's inheritance, with the remaining two thousand to be paid to the other heirs of the estate.

In 1880, the U.S. Census records the Kerkhoff household in Bremen Township, Delaware County, Iowa, consisting of Herman, listed as John H. Kerkhoff, age 32, farmer, born in Prussia; his wife, Mary, age 30, listed as born in Iowa (but she was born in Prussia), keeping house; their first two children, Anna, age 5, born in Iowa, and Margrethe, age 2, born in Iowa; Elisabeth Krogman, age 11, born in Oldenburg, servant; and John Berthold, 25, born in Hannover, works on farm.
Source: http://www.familysearch.org/

Herman and Mary Kerkhoff had three more children, for five in all: Anna, Margaret "Maggie," Alphonse, Rosa, and Louise; they were all born at Petersburg, Iowa.

Death of Herman Kerkhoff.
Mr. Herman Kerkhoff died at his home near Petersburg, after a short and severe illness, well provided with the holy sacraments of his church, on Wednesday, November 5, 1890, about 5:30 o'clock in the evening. His mourning wife, his five little children, and his brother and sister, Bernard Kerkhoff and Annie Honkamp; his brother-in-laws, W. Gerken, H. Gerken, H. Honkamp; and a number of kind neighbors were present, and his brother Frank Kerkhoff of Templeton arrived later.

The funeral took place Saturday morning, November 8th, and was attended by the branches of the Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Society of Dyersville, New Vienna, and Petersburg, of which he was an active member. Rev. Father Maasiost performed the sad rite of confining the body to the grave in SS. Peter & Paul's cemetery at Petersburg.

He was a good Catholic, an amiable husband and father, and highly respected by all who knew him.

The bereaved family extend their thanks to all, for kind attentions and their presence at the funeral, and beg that all may remember their departed husband and father in their prayers. May he rest in peace.

PIONEER RESIDENT CALLED TO REWARD
Mary Kerkhoff Summoned Tuesday Night At Age of 83 Years.
On Tuesday night, April 12, 1932, death summoned one of the oldest pioneer residents of this vicinity when Mrs. Mary Kerkhoff, 83 years of age, passed away after a long illness at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Alphonse Kerkhoff, on their farm near the Petersburg Spur. Deceased had gradually been failing in health for some time, but it was only during the last four or five weeks that she was confined to her bed, and when death came to her, it came with a suddenness that left her many friends and acquaintances all over this section shocked with grief. She was one of the best known of the early pioneer residents of this city, always prominent in affairs of the Catholic church at Petersburg, and had many friends.

Surviving her are one brother, Louis, of Fort Worth, Texas, and five children: Mrs. John Link of Guttenberg; Mrs. George Noethe of Bloomington, Wis.; Mrs. G. H. Tegeler of Dyersville; Mrs. Ben Morman of Petersburg; and Alphonse on the homestead. Numerous grandchildren and other relatives also survive.

Funeral services were held at 9:30 Saturday morning, April 16, at the SS. Peter and Paul Church in Petersburg. The pontifical requiem high mass was sung by Bishop Rudolph Gerken, of Amarillo, Texas, nephew of the deceased. The Rev. Kunkel of Norway, Iowa, acted as arch-priest. The Rev. Charles Goetzinger of Ionia was deacon, the Rev. Dunkel of Earlville was subdeacon, and the Rev. Reinert of New Vienna and Rev. A.J. Thole of Luxemburg were assistant deacons.

Following the services at the church, a short eloquent sermon was delivered by Monsignor Pape of Le Mars. He dwelt upon the life of the deceased, particularly the fact that several of the children had been privileged to enter religious orders. Services at the grave were conducted by Bishop Gerken, assisted by the Rev. Kunkel and the Rev. Mayer.

Supporting the casket were Eldon Kerkhoff, Elmer Link, Alvin Noethe, Edward Noethe, William Tegeler, and Earl Tegeler, all grandchildren of the deceased.

Mrs. Kerkhoff's passing means the death of another one of those staunch pioneer women who are now rapidly dwindling in number but memory of whose accomplishments can never be forgotten. Like the other early pioneers of this section she underwent many hardships in the early days of her life, but through it all she was a devoted Christian wife and mother. Her life long adherence to the principles of her holy religion was rewarded by her being able to have the last rites of the Catholic Church before she died. Her passing will be sadly missed, particularly by immediate members of her family.

Herman Kerkhoff		Four-generation picture: Mary (Gerken) Kerkhoff, daughter Anna (Kerkhoff) Link, grandaughter Loretta (Link) Dorweiler, and great-granddaughter Dorweiler

Children of Herman and Mary (Gerken) Kerkhoff:

• Anna M. Kerkhoff was born in 1876 at Petersburg, Iowa, daughter of Herman and Mary (Gerken) Kerkhoff. Anna Kerkhoff married John J. Link. John Link was born in 1873. John and Anna Link lived at Guttenberg, Iowa. John and Anna Link had seven children: Valeria M. Link, Loretta A. Link, Sylveria "Sylvia" Link, Evelyn Link (Sister Mary Annora), Hilda R. Link, Elmer Link, and Marie Link. Anna (Kerkhoff) Link died in 1948. John Link died in 1965. They were buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery at Guttenberg, Iowa.

• Margaret M. Kerkhoff was born on January 6, 1879, at Petersburg, Iowa, daughter of Herman and Mary (Gerken) Kerkhoff. Margaret Kerkhoff, who was called "Maggie," married Gerhardt (George) J. Noethe. George Noethe born on November 9, 1873, son of William and Anna Margareth (Sudmeier) Noethe. George and Maggie Noethe farmed at Patch Grove, Wisconsin, where they were members of St. John's Catholic Church. George and Maggie Noethe had six children: Alvin Noethe, Estelle "Stella" Noethe, Edward Noethe, Stasia Noethe, Marie Noethe, and Lavern Noethe. George Noethe died in 1963. Margaret "Maggie" (Kerkhoff) Noethe died on February 22, 1969, at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. George and Maggie Noethe were buried in St. John's Cemetery at Patch Grove, Wisconsin.

• Alphonse Kerkhoff was born on December 10, 1881, at Petersburg, Iowa, son of Herman and Mary (Gerken) Kerkhoff. Alphonse Kerkhoff married Susan Grawe on November 25, 1913, at Dyersville, Iowa. Susan Grawe was born on November 20, 1889, daughter of Nicholas and Anna (Jasper) Grawe. Alphonse and Susan Kerkhoff farmed near Petersburg, Iowa, where they were members of SS. Peter and Paul Church. Alphonse and Susan Kerkhoff had four children: Amanda Kerkhoff, Eldon Kerkhoff, Modesta Kerkhoff, and Rita Kerkhoff. Alphonse Gerken died on November 7, 1944, at a Dubuque, Iowa, hospital. Susan (Grawe) Kerkhoff died on February 10, 1984, at Guttenberg Memorial Hospital in Guttenberg, Iowa. They were buried in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Petersburg, Iowa.

• Rosa Kerkhoff was born on August 22, 1886, at Petersburg, Iowa, daughter of Herman and Mary (Gerken) Kerkhoff.. Rosa Kerkhoff married Gerhardt Henry Tegeler on October 18, 1910, at Petersburg, Iowa. Gerhardt Tegeler, who was called "Jerry," was born on July 26, 1982, at New Vienna, Iowa, son of Bernard and Theresa (Beckmann) Tegeler. Jerry and Rosa Tegeler lived at Dyersville, Iowa, where they farmed. Jerry and Rosa Tegeler had six children: William Tegeler, Alma Tegeler, Edna Tegeler, Herbert Tegeler, Earl Tegeler, and Elmer Tegeler. Rosa (Kerkhoff) Tegeler died on July 24, 1956, in Dyersville, Iowa, at home. Gerhardt "Jerry" Tegeler, of Dyersville, Iowa, died on October 24, 1960, at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa. They were buried in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Dyersville, Iowa.

• Louise Kerkhoff was born on May 31, 1888, at Petersburg, Iowa, daughter of Herman and Mary (Gerken) Kerkhoff. Louise Kerkhoff married Bernard Leo Mormann on April 5, 1917, at Petersburg, Iowa. Bernard Mormann, who was called "Ben," was born on March 9, 1895, son of Henry and Agnes (Deppe) Mormann. Ben and Loise Mormann farmed at Petersburg, Iowa, and Ben also worked as a truck driver. Ben and Loise Mormann had five children, LuVerne Mormann, Walter Mormann, Arthur Mormann, Agnes Mormann, and Evelyn Mormann. Louise (Kerkhoff) Mormann died on July 6, 1969, at a Manchester, Iowa, hospital. Bernard "Ben" Leo Mormann died September 13, 1964, at the Snodgrass Nursing Home in Coggon, Iowa. They were buried in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery at Petersburg, Iowa.

Sources include, primarily, the obituaries and articles from the Dyersville Commercial. Sheila Young, a great-granddaughter of Herman and Mary (Gerken) Kerkhoff, provided a newspaper article containing funeral information for Mary Kerkhoff (in which the last name was spelled Kerchoff), the four-generation picture, and the picture of Herman Kerkhoff.

© 2002-07 Tom Larson P.O. Box 141 Peosta, IA 52068-0141 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~tdlarson/gerken/kerkhoff/ Last revised November 5, 2007.