Henry Nieland Operation at Age 95
The Breda News, January 25, 1947
Breda man, 95, Has Rugged Constitution;
Hale after Operation
Father of 16 Tells Why He Has Lived to
Ripe Age: `Haven't Died Yet!'
Henry
Nieland, 95, of Breda, who went home yesterday from St. Anthony
hospital where he had undergone surgery 10 days earlier, can appreciate
a little humor. He said he has lived to such a good old age because
he "hasn't died yet."
But looking at life more seriously, he added that
he considers it a special grace that he has lived so long to enjoy
his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The patriarch
has so many grandchildren it is difficult to count them. Great-grandchildren
also run into numbers.
* * *
Until he became ill with a strangulated hernia,
requiring immediate surgery, Mr. Nieland had scarcely known what
sickness is. He had had a cold now and then, sometimes a slight
indisposition, but nothing worse.
He was operated on Tuesday night, January 14. He
rested well that night and continued to improve with strides.
Yesterday morning his son, William Nieland of Carroll, took him
back to his home in Breda.
Has a Chat
As soon as he arrived there, Mr. Nieland sat down
in his rocking hair for a chat with his daughter, Mrs. Jacob Wittry.
* * *
Although the words "rugged individual"
are somewhat worn out, they fit Mr. Nieland perfectly. He likes
his independence. He takes care of his own finances. When he was
released at the hospital, he signed his own check.
* * *
His son, William, said that Mr. Nieland is looking
forward to having his own garden again in the summer. He handles
a good sized vegetable plot at the back of the lot.
He likes a game of cards and once in a while plays
at a table with some of his friends, but "not as often as
he used to." H smokes an occasional pipe an spends a good
share of his time reading.
Keeps Busy
Every day is a busy one for him. Unless the weather
is too stormy he is in his pew at St. Bernard's church for mass
every morning. He lives about a block and a half from the church.
After mass, he walks down to the post office for his mail. And
so the day goes on, with first one little task and then another.
* * *
He says he lives from day to day, enjoying each
one as it comes along.
* * *
Mr. Nieland celebrated his 95th birthday Saturday,
January 18, in the hospital. The day wasn't greatly deferent from
the other ones that he spent in the hospital. Some of his children
were there to see him every dayand of course on his birthday.
Daughters Here
Two daughters who are nuns, Sister M. Florina and
Sister M. Sigmuda, both of LaCrosse, spent several days here with
him.
* * *
Mr. Nieland is a man of medium height with gray
hair and beard. He was born January 18, 1852, in Wesphalen, Germany.
He has lived in Iowa since 1869 and in Carroll county since 1873.
For many years he resided on his Wheatland township farm one mile
west and about two miles north of Breda. H retired approximately
20 years ago.
* * *
His son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob
Wittry, and family live with him in his Breda home. His wife,
who was Anna Koster before her marriage, died in May, 1933.
16 Children
Mr. Nieland has had 16 children. Twelve of them
are living: Mrs. Ferdinand Steinkamp and Frank Nieland, Breda;
Mrs. Margaret Mueggenborg, Okarche, Okla; Sister M. Florina, LaCrosse,
Wis.; William Nieland, Carroll; Ben Nieland, Wall Lake; Sister
M. Sigmunda, LaCrosse, Wis.; Mrs. Arthur Braun, Alton; Mrs. Jacob
Wittry, Breda; Louis Nieland, Wall Lake; Joe Nieland, Carroll,
and Herman Nieland, Wall Lake.
A daughter, Mrs. Joe Wittrock (Rose) died in August,
1935. Her children live in Oklahoma. A son, Henry, died in 1931,
and two other children died in infancy.
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