Anna Oestmann

Obituary

Anna Maria Oestmann, nee Bohling, was born February 1, 1878 at Schwallingen, Germany, the oldest child of Fred Bohling and wife, Anna. She was baptized in the Lutheran faith in infancy. At the age of four years she emigrated with her parents and a brother to the United States, living with an uncle. Dick Bohling, for several months until they established a home on a farm east of Auburn, Nebraska where they lived for one years. In the year 1888, having lived on various farms, modestly and in much poverty, her parents established a permanent home known as the Fred Bohling farm, 3 miles north and one mile east of Hickory Grove church.
On April 3, 1892 she renewed her Lutheran faith at her confirmation by the late Reverend Wittig Johannes. This class was the first class to be confirmed in the new church.
On Nov. 23, 1900 she was united in holy wedlock with Friedrich H. Oestmann (real name was Dietrich Frederich Heinrich) by the late Reverend Theodore Streng. This union was blessed with seven children; Edwin and Martin of Johnson, Emma (Mrs. Otto Gobber) of Elk Creek, Nebraska, Augusta (Mrs. Alvin Schlange), Clarence, Carl and Lydia (Mrs. Henry Oetjen Jr.), all of Auburn. These children were reared in the true Christian home that they had established on the Fred Oestmann farm 1/4 mile east of Hickory Grove church . Here they lived for 37 years. With her husband she then moved to a lovely little home just south of the church, where she enjoyed a peaceful country life.
The deceased was a regular communicant member of her church and along with the duties of motherhood gave freely of her time to assist in church work. She was affiliated with the Women's Missionary Society as a charter member and remained faithful though inactive for a year, as a prayerful member of that society.
The deceased enjoyed good health practically all her life. It was in July of 1945 that she sensed that all was not well with her health. She submitted to a major operation in August of the same year. Although the hoped for improvement was slow, God granted her strength to rally and after about five weeks she returned from the hospital to her home. After a lengthy period of convalescing she again enjoyed two years of happy useful living. In July of 1947 she lost the use of her left arm, but in spite of that handicap she still was cheerful and very active. On February 1 she celebrated her 70th birthday, enjoying the presence of all her children. Grandchildren, her three sisters and her pastor and family. She became bedfast for a period of five weeks priors to her passing.
Holy Sacrament was administered to her on April 27. She passed away on the evening of May 18, when she peacefully fell asleep. She reached the age of 70 years, three months, 17 days.
She leaves to mourn her loss: her husband, seven children, 28 grandchildren, one brother, Fred Bohling of Auburn, three sisters, Mrs. Henry G. Oestmann of Elk Creek, Nebraska, Mrs. Carl Bohling and Mrs. Herman C. Bohling of Johnson, Nebraska and a host of other relatives and friends.
Last rites were held at Hickory Grove church May 21 at 2 p.m. with Reverend W. A Hummel, pastor of the church in charge. Interment was in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers were Alvin Oestmann, Gustav Oestmann, Emil Bohling, Alvin Bohling, Otto Bohling and Carl Bohling Jr.
Eileen Oestmann, and Ilma Gobber were in charge of the flowers.
Funeral arrangements were in charge of Casey and Timm Funeral home of Auburn, Nebraska

Born - April 15, 1908 ۩ Died - February 17, 1979
Parents - Friedrich & Mary Moller (Gobber) Schlange

Born - June 29, 1910 ۩ Died - November 25, 1968
2ndHusband - Albert Hooper Houlton