Henry Arkfeld (1859-1949) - Find a Grave Memorial

Henry Arkfeld

Birth

18 Dec 1859

Osage County, Missouri, USA

Death

19 Apr 1949 (aged 89)

Panama, Shelby County, Iowa, USA

Burial

Saint Marys Cemetery

Panama, Shelby County, Iowa, USA Add to Map

Plot

Memorial ID

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Henry is the 2nd son of Franz Wilhelm Ackfeld and Magdalena Lueckenotto Ackfeld. Franz apparently died in a building accident in 1865 and Magdalena remarried a few months later to Joseph Jurgensmier.

Henry and his brother, John Arkfeld, both changed the spelling of their last names from "Ackfeld" to "Arkfeld." Henry's older brother, Fred Ackfeld, did not change the spelling of his name and neither did his younger sister, Anna Catherine Ackfeld Coffelt.
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from Centennial book: "Panama Pages of Time~Panama, Iowa 1884~1984"
page 199~200
Henry Arkfeld Family
Henry Arkfeld (Dec. 18, 1859~April 19, 1949) was born in Babbtown, Osage County, Missouri to Frank and Magdalene (Luckenotto) Ackfeld. Henry came to Iowa by wagon with Ben Muenchrath and his sister. He changed the spelling of his name to "Arkfeld" when he moved to Iowa.

Magdalene (Sept. 25, 1863 ~ Aug. 23, 1938) was born in St. Cloud, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin to Joseph and Katherine (Kaufman) Blum. She came to Westphalia with her family in 1874.

Henry and Magdalene were married on July 3, 1883 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, Iowa. They had 12 children: Joseph married Mary Theresa Siemer ~story elsewhere. Magdalena married Nicholas Reding, and they have five children; Lawrence, Leola, Rosemary, Lillian, and James. George married Mary A. Siemer ~ story elsewhere. John married Mary Keane ~ story elsewhere. Michael married Ann Bauler, and they have five children; Maglan, Gregory, Tecla, Rita, and Cyrilla. Peter married Chistena Huebner ~ story elsewhere. Benedict married Katherine Kenkel ~ story elsewhere. Katherine became Sister M. Madeline O.S.B., and taught school in Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa before her death in 1941. Francis died in 1918 at age 19. Mary worked as a teller in the Panama Bank, and died in 1939. Anna married Louis Mages ~ story elsewhere. Edmund died at age 7 in 1907.

After their marriage, Henry and Magdalene rented, and then purchased land in the Panama area. Henry was a farmer, housemover and operated a harness shop in Panama. He was a director of the new Panama Savings Bank which was organized in 1906, and active in bringing the first telephone system to Panama. In 1900 he was in charge of moving the Catholic Church building from atop the hill to a site directly north of the present church site. Henry was President of the Panama Public School Board in 1911. He was a member of the Holy Name Society, and Magdalene was a member of the Rosary Society.

Father of Joseph, Magdalena Elizabeth, George M., John Joseph, Peter John, Michael George, Benedict Cornelius, Katherine, Francis, Mary, Anna Marie & Edmund Arkfeld

Inscription

Life Story of
Henry Arkfeld Sr., 89 PANAMA—Death claimed a pioneer resident of Panama in the passing of Henry Arkfeld Sr. who was called to his eternal reward on Tuesday April 19 at the home of his son George.
Henry Arkfeld, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Arkfeld was born at Babtown, Missouri Dec. 18, 1859. When a young man he came to Iowa. On July 4, 1884, he was united in marriage to Magdalena Blum at Westphalia, Iowa. To this union twelve children were born. Two daughters, Sister Madeline O.S.B. and Mary and two sons Francis and Edwin preceded him in death. He was a pioneer member of St. Mary's Parish being here when the parish was first organized. He was very active in parish activities, until three years ago, when he suffered a stroke and has since been confined to a wheel chair in spite of this handicap, he lived a happy life and enjoyed the many hours spent with his family and friends.
Mr. Arkfeld assisted in the moving of the old Church to the present site of St. Mary's and later assisted with the improving and building of the new church. Besides his daughter, three of his grandchildren embraced the religious life. The Most Reverend Bishop Leo C Arkfeld SVD of Central New Guinea, Sister Mary Lourdes F.M.S.I. of New York and Sister Jacelyn of the Sisters of Mercy.
He was a member of the Holy Name Society and Knights of Columbus, both attended the funeral.
Funeral services were held at St. Mary's Church April 22, 1949 with a relative, Rev. Hilary Gaul of Westphalia as celebrant, another relative Rev. Cornelius Gaul of DesMoines as deacon and Msgr. M. B. Schiltz as Sub. Deacon. Rev. E. Klein of Des Moines was in the sanctuary, Msgr. Schiltz also delivered the sermon.
Pallbearers were six grandsons, Vince Arkfeld of Portsmouth, Clarence and Tony Arkfeld of Defiance, Clem, Henry and Thomas Arkfeld of Panama. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Nick Reding of Oklahoma City, Okla, and Mrs. Louis Mages of Panama. Six sons: Joe of Defiance, Mike of Sioux City, Geo., John Pete and Ben all of Panama. Twenty-eight grandchildren and fifty-four great grandchildren, one sister Mrs. Kate Viorel of St. Luis, MO., one half-sister, Mrs. Mark Queeney of Randolph, Nebr. And two half-brothers, Frank and Ben Jurgensmeier of Randolph Nebr. Besides a host of other relatives and friends.
Relatives attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Mike Arkfeld of Sioux City, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Arkfeld and Tony Arkfeld of Defiance, Mr. and Mrs. Vince Arkfeld and Mr. and Mr