Obituary

Kansan, Wednesday, August 28, 1940

Jacob Klabau was born October 27, 1878, in Eichwalde, Germany and passed away Sunday, August 25, 1940, at Bethel Deaconess hospital, Newton, Kansas. Mr. Klabau had been in failing health for the past eight months. Early Sunday morning he was suddenly taken seriously ill and was immediately taken to the hospital where medical and nursing skill did every that could be done for him, but he failed to rally and, with his wife and son-in-law, Mr. Amos Henry, at his bedside, quietly went to rest.

Jacob was one of eight children born to Martin Jacob and Klabau and Mary Louise Horn Klabau. The family came to the Unites States in 1880 and settled on a farm near Peabody, Kansas. A brother, Mr. George Klabau and a sister, Mrs. Mary Radtke, both of Newton, alone survive of this family.

Mr. Klabau began work for the Atchinson Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in August 1899 in the roundhouse at Newton, was promoted to locomotive fireman in January 1901 and to locomotive engineer in August 1905. He was ever a most efficient and dependable engineer and a loyal booster for the Santa Fe.

Mr. Klabau was married to Miss Mattie Anne Green of Hutchinson, Kansas, in April 1906. To this union two children were born. One daughter, Florence passed away in November 1928. The other daughter, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Amos Henry.

As a child Mr. Klabau was baptized into the Evangelical church in Eichwalde, but for many years he has been a member of the First Christian church of Newton. He has been a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers since April 1907 and has ever been active and loyal to the Brotherhood. Strengthened by the teaching of Christianity made Mr. Klabau a friend and neighbor to all.

There was real regret among his many friends and fellow workers when physical disability made it necessary for "Jake" as he was familiarly known, to step down from the engine cab. There is real sorrow and sadness among all who knew him at his untimely death.

Funeral services for Mr. Klabau were conducted Tuesday afternoon at the First Christian Church with Rev. Logan Martin officiating. Men who had been associated with Mr. Klabau in railroad work served as pallbearers and were Harold Lewis, R. B. Bentz, C. E. Kizer, Wm. Urban, Fred Toms and F. E. Turner. A large number of railroad engineers and their wives attended the service in body. Burial was in Greenwood cemetery.