From the Atlantic Public Library obituary file: “ANT Monday Mar 15, 1948”
Henry Rathkamp, 72, Cumberland Passes Sunday
Cumberland—Henry Rathkamp, 72, died Sunday noon at his home five miles southwest of Cumberland following a stroke 10 days previous. He had been in declining health for several months.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p. m. Wednesday at the St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed church, of which he was a member. The Rev Harold G. Zueller [Zweller?] will officiate and burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.
Born May 25, 1875, son of Frederick and Louisa Rathkamp, in Hanover, Germany, he came to the United States at the age of 16. Save for one year in Shenandoah, he spent his life in Cass county. He married Augusta [?] Bennett on June 29, 1901. His wife died March 12, 1945.
He is survived by three children, Everett and Mabel at home, and Louis Rathkamp, also of Cumberland; a sister, Mrs. Doris [Dora] Schaaf of Atlantic, and two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Louth [sic] Rathkamp [sic] of Griswold and Mrs. Peter Bicking [?] of Atlantic.
Additional notes:
Dora Rathkamp (1872-1965) married Henry J. Schaaf (1870-1927), so Frederick and Louisa Rathkamp are also ancestors of Henry’s branch of the Schaaf family. So far as I can tell, Henry’s parents were Rasmus/Amus Schaaf and Catharine Oehlerts/ Katrina Earllet, but these names are part history and part speculation and much bad spelling of German names. I have an obituary on order that might provide more information. I welcome corrections and additional information.
11mitchell@mchsi.com