2.12.1.3.1. John Otto Sauerwein (1917-1985)

John Otto Sauerwein was born on 10 September 1917 in St. Clair County, Illinois, to Otto Wigand and Elizabeth Catherine (Blum) Sauerwein. In 1920 John and his parents lived on Main Street in Lenzburg, Illinois, and his father was the manager of a soft drink parlor.

John's father died in 1922. Eight years later he, his mother and sister lived at 10 North Main Street in Marissa, Illinois. His mother took in laundry to make ends meet. She rented their home for $5 per month. Ten years later John was 22 years old, lived in Old Marissa, Illinois, with his mother and sister. Old Marissa is less than a mile north of Marissa. He worked as an instructor at the local recreation center. His mother did housework in private homes and his sister was a folder at a shoe factory.

By 1951 John had married a young widow whose maiden name was Rachel Ilene Hutchison. Her first husband had been killed in World War II, according to my Grandmother. John had taken a job with KE-M Company as an operator and the family lived at 123 High in Iowa City, Iowa. By 1955 the family lived about 100 miles south in Keokuk, Iowa. They lived at 1902 Orleans Avenue and John remained with KE-M Company working as a laborer. In 1957 the family lived at the same address and John continued to work for KE-M Company.

1902 Orleans Avenue, Keokuk, Iowa; photograph courtesy of Google Maps

By 1959 John and Rachel had moved to Jackson, Illinois and lived at 1034 Dayton Street. He worked for the Illinois Public Aid Commission. The next year they moved to 906 Grove Street and John worked as an operator in a power plant.

John Otto Sauerwein died on 29 October 1985 in Jefferson County, Kentucky. He still lived in Jacksonville, Illinois, at the time of his death. He was buried at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Jacksonville.

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'1902 Orleans Avenue, Keokuk, Iowa,' Google Maps
1920 US Federal Census, Census Place: Lenzburg, St Clair, Illinois; Roll: T625_405; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 195; Image 462
1930 US Federal Census, Census Place: Marissa, St Clair, Illinois; Roll: 555; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0084; Image: 1129.0; FHL microfilm: 2340290
1940 US Federal Census, Census Place: Old Marissa, St Clair, Illinois; Roll: T627)882; Page 2B; Enumeration District: 82-103
Alice (Muir) Jennings' Genealogy Notebook, page 5
Global, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, 1985 Sauerwein, John
US, Illinois, Jacksonville Obituary Extracts, 1976-1996, 1985 Sauerwein, John
US, Kentucky, Death Index, 1911-2000, 1985 Sauerwein, John
US, City Directories, 1821-1989, Iowa City, 1951
US, City Directories, 1821-1989, Jacksonville, Illinois, 1959
US, City Directories, 1821-1989, Jacksonville, Illinois, 1960
US, City Directories, 1821-1989, Keokuk, Iowa, 1955
US, City Directories, 1821-1989, Keokuk, Iowa, 1957
US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, Number: 355-03-8747; Issue State: Illinois