Ewegen Family Obituaries

Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, Colorado, January 31, 1946
 
LAST RITES ARE HELD FOR RUDOLPH EWEGEN
 
Rudolph Ewegen died at the local hospital Wednesday evening of last week after having submitted to a major operation, the amputation of a leg. Mr. Ewegen had been in ill health for several years, due to diabetes, which was the cause of his losing both legs. He came to Colorado with his family about 35 years ago and settled on a farm near Amherst, where he succeeded in farming, custom breaking of prairie sod, threshing and raising pure bred Duroc Jersey hogs.
 
The deceased also served as county commissioner of the first district in Phillips County. He was active in community building, serving as a director of the Farmer's Elevator of Amherst. He continued to live on his farm until the time of his death.
 
Rudolph Ewegen was born August 26, 1883 on a farm near Crete, Nebraska and passed away January 23, 1946 at 11:15 p.m. at the age of 62 years, four months and 27 days.
 
A farm accident took the life of his father when the deceased was four years old and early in his life he assumed responsibilities far beyond those of the average child.
 
In 1902 he married Josephine Hier of Crete, Nebraska and they made their home on a farm near that city until 1911, when they moved to Amherst, Colorado. The land was unimproved and unfenced prairie and Mr. Ewegen had preceded his family there to build a house and break up virgin land.
 
To this union were born five children, Mary, now Mrs. Arthur Claymon of Holyoke; Ralph, now residing at Wayne, Nebraska; Viola, now Mrs. Arnold Brase of Amherst, Colorado; John, now farming near Amherst, and Ruth, now Mrs. Earl Harned of Los Angeles, California.
 
Mr. Ewegen engaged in farming and livestock raising on an extensive scale for a number of years, until failing health forced curtailment of his activities. He was active in farm cooperative organizations, serving as a director of same. He served one term as county commissioner. Nothing gave him more pleasure than the outstanding support given him in his campaigns by the people of his own community.
 
In November 1943 gangrene resulting from diabetes necessitated the removal of his left leg. This gained him a few years of life, but a similar condition developed in the right leg. The second amputation was performed, but complications of Bright's disease, diabetes and a weak heart proved insurmountable.
 
Mr. Ewegen leaves to mourn his departure his wife and the five children; one brother, John Ewegen of Crete, Nebraska; his stepfather, A.H. Miller of Crete, now in his 94th year; five grandchildren, Alvin Claymon of Holyoke; Joyce and Lester Ewegen of Amherst; Sandra and Robert Ewegen of Wayne; numerous relatives and a host of friends. The funeral mass was offered by the Reverend Father Brady at St. Patrick's Church, Monday at 10:00 a.m. Burial was made in the Holyoke cemetery.

Rudolph Ewegen

FINAL RITES HERE SATURDAY FOR MRS. JOSEPHINE EWEGEN
 
Last rites for Mrs. Josephine Ewegen, a Phillips County resident for more than 50 years, were conducted at 10:00 Saturday, September 29, at St. Patrick's Church here, with Rev. John C. Walsh offering Requiem High Mass. Interment was at Holyoke Memorial Park.
 
Mrs. Ewegen was stricken by a heart attack on Monday morning, September 24, at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Mary Claymon, in Sterling, with who she had been making her home. She was taken to the Logan County Hospital in Sterling, and appeared to be making a good recovery, when she was fatally stricken that night. She passed away at 10:30 p.m. Monday. Mrs. Mary Claymon's husband, Arthur Claymon, passed away of a heart attack just one week earlier, on Monday evening, September 17.
 
A daughter of Bernard and Mary Gieler Hier, Mrs. Ewegen was born May 20, 1882, near Franklin, Nebraska. The family later moved to a farm near Crete, Nebraska where she grew to young womanhood.
 
She was united in marriage to Rudolph Ewegen, also of Crete, in 1902. They established their home on a farm near Crete, residing there for eight years. In 1910 the couple, with their two children, moved to a farm north of Amherst. Mr. Ewegen preceded his family there to build a house and break up land to farm. Here three more children were born.
 
After Mr. Ewegen's death in January 1946, Mrs. Ewegen made her home for a number of years with a son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Brase, of Amherst. Later she divided her time between all the members of her family.
 
Mrs. Ewegen was known among her friends to be industrious and dedicated to her family. Although quiet and retiring, she enjoyed the companionship of friends and neighbors. She was a lifelong member of the Catholic church, a long-time member of the Altar and Rosary society, and a charter member and honorary member of the Amherst Extension club.
 
Surviving Mrs. Ewegen are two sons, Ralph Ewegen, Amherst, and John Ewegen, Greeley; three daughters, Mrs. Mary Claymon, Sterling, Viola, Mrs. Arnold Brase, Amherst, and Ruth, Mrs. Earl Harned,North Hollywood,California; three brothers; three sisters; eight grandchildren; four great grandchildren; a number of other relatives; and a large group of friends.
 
 
 
Josephine (Hier) Ewegen

Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, Colorado, June 30, 1994
 
Ralph B. Ewegen of Amherst was born April 5, 1909 in Crete, Nebraska. He died Tuesday, June 21, 1994 on his farm immediately north of Amherst when a farm mower he was servicing fell on him after a jack gave way. He was 85.
 
Ewegen was raised on the farm near Amherst, He graduated as valedictorian of Phillips County High School in 1926 and worked as a salesman before returning to run the farm after the death of his father Rudolph in 1946. His mother Josephine Hier Ewegen died in 1962.
 
Ralph was married to Louise Anderson on May 11, 1940 in Newcastle, Nebraska.
 
The Ewegen family farm has been recognized by the Colorado Historical Society as one of Colorado’s pioneer “century farms” that has been operated by the same family for more than 100 years. For 59 of those years, until age 84, Ralph was the principal operator. Retiring in 1993 after a heart bypass operation, he continued overseeing the farm until his death last Tuesday.
 
Survivors include Louise Ewegen of Holyoke; sister Viola Brase of Amherst; sons Bob Ewegen, a Denver journalist and Eugene Feldman, a retired Army master sergeant now living in Enterprise, Alabama; daughter Sandra Olsen-Baulch, a professional artist of Genesee; sister-in-law Marie Ewegen of Greeley; grandchildren Leilani Olsen, Michael Olsen, Misty Ewegen, Shane Ewegen, Llani Ray and Gilbert Lockhart; and one great grandson.
 
A rosary vigil was held Friday, June 24 at Saint Patrick’s Church. Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, June 25, 1994 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Holyoke with Fr. Neal Pfister officiating. Interment followed at Holyoke Memorial Park.
 
 
 
 
Ralph B. Ewegen

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