Reiner Torbeck

The seating capacity of the St. Matthew's Lutheran church was far too inadequate to accommodate the friends who gathered in Johnson last Sunday afternoon, May 10th, to honor Mr. Reiner Torbeck who passed away Thursday morning, May 7th, 1925, at 8:40 o'clock,

aged 75 years, 8 months, 26 days.

During the years spent in this country he made countless friends by his upright manner of living. He never spoke evil of anyone, he detested falsehoods. His time and care were given his family and home,

 where his thoughts were centered.

Rev. William Harder, who conducted the funeral services,

gave praise to the departed one as a good citizen,

a loving father and a Christian.

OBITUARY

Reiner Hillerichs Torbeck was born January 11, 1850, at Lehr, Ostfriesland, Germany. His early life was spent in the fatherland where he was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He served his country during the Franco-Prussian war, returning home at the close of the war with an honorable record. Shortly after the war he came to the United States to join his brother John who had immigrated to this country and located near Tecumseh. March 7, 1877, the deceased was united in marriage to Miss Christina Dirks and they established their home on a farm near the Stone church. Four sons and seven daughters were born to this union. Besides farming, Mr. Torbeck did considerable carpenter work. He was a most successful farmer and carpenter and he used his practicability to a good advantage.

In 1909 the family relocated from their beautiful farm home to an equally beautiful home in Johnson, just north of the city park. Here Mrs. Torbeck passed away March 4, 1922, after an extended illness. In her declining days she was tenderly cared by her husband and children. Before his wife's demise Mr. Torbeck suffered from heart trouble. A complication of heart trouble and Bright's disease caused months of pain and suffering. The children were ever faithful to their father during his illness. At Easter time when his life was despaired of, all of them came home to be at his service. The members of the family who mourn his death are: Mrs. Ernest (Theta) Marguart of Bryon, Nebraska, Mrs. Alka (Hilka) Malpert of Nora, Nebraska, Mrs. John (Christina) Schleufer, Wauneta, Nebraska, John Torbeck of Byron, Nebraska, Fred Torbeck of Auburn, Nebraska, Mrs. John (Augusta) Schleufer of Nora, Nebraska, Herman Torbeck of Byron, Nebraska, Mrs. Herman (Emma) Oestmann, of Auburn, Nebraska, Dietrich Torbeck of Byron, Nebraska, Mrs. Otto (Dora) Harms of Byron, Nebraska, Mrs. Fred (Anna) Kienker Jr., of Johnson, Nebraska, 46 grand-children and many friends.

Shortly after his removal to Johnson he became a member of St. Matthew's Lutheran church, where his funeral was conducted Sunday afternoon, following a short service at the home. A double quartet sang at the home and at church.

His four sons and two sons-in-law residing here, Fred Kienker and Herman Oestmann, were pallbearers. Interment in the Johnson cemetery by the side of his beloved wife.

The Johnson News

Thursday

May 14, 1925

CARD OF THANKS

We sincerely thank our neighbors and friends for the beautiful floral offerings, we deeply appreciate their kindness and expressions of sympathy and the many loving efforts rendered to lighten our sorrow in the loss of our dear father, Reiner Torbeck.

The Children

Mrs. Reiner Torbeck

Answers Summons

Christine Dirks, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Dirks, was born February 29, 1856, at Petersburg, Illinois, and died at the family home in Johnson Saturday afternoon, March 4, 1922, at the age of 66 years and 4 days. At the age of about a year the Dirks family moved to Nemaha county, Nebraska, and settled southeast of Johnson, in the Stone Church vicinity where the deceased received her training in the Lutheran faith.

March 7, 1877, Christine Dirks was united in marriage with Mr. Reiner Torbeck, an industrious and highly respected farmer of her neighborhood. Eleven children, four sons and seven daughters, were born to this union and the death of the wife and mother is the first one in the large family. In the year 1913, after having lived on a farm for thirty-six years, the Torbeck home was established in Johnson.

The past few years the deceased had been afflicted with diabetes, however she was able to be about the house most of the time, until a few days before her death. The bereaved ones are, Her husband, Mr. Reiner Torbeck, eleven children and their families; Mrs. Theta Marguart, Bryon, Nebraska, Mrs. Hilka Malpert, Nora, Nebraska, Mrs. Christine Schleufer, Wauneta, Nebraska, Mr. John Torbeck, Byron, Nebraska, Mr. Fred Torbeck, Johnson, Nebraska, Mrs. Augusta Scheufer, Nora, Nebraska, Mr. Herman Torbeck, Byron, Nebraska, Mrs. Emma Oestmann, Auburn, Nebraska, Mr. Dietrich Torbeck, Byron, Nebraska, Mrs. Dora Harms, Byron, Nebraska, Mrs. Anna Kienker, Johnson, Nebraska, four brothers and one sister; Mr. John Dirks, Johnson, Nebraska, Mr. Herman Dirks, Orosi, California, Mr. Henry Dirks, Hobart, Oklahoma, Mr. Christian Dirks, Beatrice, Nebraska, Mrs. Hannah Jacobs, Larned, Kansas, thirty-six grandchildren, numerous other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services conducted by Rev. William Harder were held at the home and also at the Lutheran church, Wednesday afternoon, March 8, 1922. Interment at the Johnson cemetery.

The Johnson News

Thursday

March 9, 1922