John Peter Siemsen

John Siemsen service held

John Siemsen who homesteaded north of Van Tassell in 1908, "back when there was only one grave in the cemetery" was buried here Friday. Mr. Siemsen, 87, died last Wednesday. He had been hospitalized here since Jan. 26 after suffering a heart attack, followed by a stroke.

Mr. Siemsen proved-up on his homestead in 1909. The homestead is still part of the Siemsen ranch where he lived until he retired in 1965 and moved to Lusk. For many years he operated a well-drilling outfit and threshing machine for neighbors of the community.

John and Jessie Siemsen, who were married at the home of her parents in the Sunnyside community Dec. 10, 1914, observed their 60th anniversary with children and grandchildren in 1974, and celebrated their 50th anniversary with a reception for friends and relatives at the Congregational Church of Lusk in 1964.

John Peter Siemsen was born in Scott County, 5 miles east of Davenport, Iowa, August 18, 1888, the son of Christina and John Siemsen. He was the fifth child of a family of 15. The family moved to Pierce, Neb., when he was a young boy, and he grew to manhood in that community.

He came to Wyoming in 1908 and filed on a homestead, returning to Nebraska for the winter. Spring of 1909 he returned to Wyoming by way of immigrant train bringing with him a brother and two sisters.

Funeral service was conducted at Peet Chapel Feb. 13 by the Rev. Robert Boutwell. Mark Lohr sang "How Great Thou Art" and "Beyond The Sunset," accompanied by Mrs. Dale M. Bardo.

Honorary pallbearers were "all his friends." Casketbearers were Clifford Cox, Paul Heany, John Hammond, Willard Porter, Robert Fancher and Earnest Lemons.

Mr. Siemsen is survived by his widow, Jessie; a son Nyal of Lusk; a daughter Irene Curtin, Thermopolis; one older brother, Henry Siemsen, Duluth, Minn.; three younger sisters, Annie Larsen, Bloomfield, Neb., Lily Nelson, Phoenix, Ariz., and Alice Kreuger, Pierce, Neb.; four grandchildren, and on great-grandchild.

Persons from out-of-town attending the funeral included Mr. and Mrs. Pat Curtin, Billings, Mont., Mr. and Mrs. Henry Krueger, Pierce, Neb., Mrs. Dora Lincoln, Upton, Mr. and Mrs. Orville Hays, Newcastle, Ervin H. Brahms, Moorcroft, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Siemsen, Scottsbluff, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Peterman, Crook, Colo., Mrs. Eva Marts and Ralph Marts, Bonesteel, S.D., Guy Marts, Colome, S.D., and Jerry Marts, Gregory, S.D., Mrs. Harold Kahler, Brookings, S.D., Mrs. Pearl Van Dine and Richard Van Dine, Douglas, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Van Dine, Newcastle.

The Lusk Herald
Feb 12, 1976
John Siemsen dies Wednesday

John Siemsen, 87, died at 12:30 this Wednesday morning. He had been listed as critically ill at the Niobrara Memorial Hospital for over a week. A long-time resident of Niobrara county, he had ranched in the Kirtley area before moving to Lusk to retire.

Funeral service is pending.

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