Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-12-21
REV. DR.. Y. kOREN DEAD
Beloved Father of the Norwegian
Church Goes to His
Reward.
3. YEARS PASTOR ONE CHURCH.
Long and HOnOred Life i'm the Mas
ter's Service Comes to q Close
i'm Same Place Where
il Began.

At the close of a long and active
career, honored, respected and be-
loved by his countrymen through
out the nation and even across the
seas, as we'll as by every acquaint
anceship formed during his long
residence in this community, Rev.
DR.. V. Koren on Monday night at
ten o'clock, heard his Master call
and answered Lord, l am Ready"
and passed into eternity.
In his passing is removed one of
Americas notable Norwegian char
acters, the most prominent figure in
the Norwegian Lutheran Synod
church, man of power and influ-
ence and ability, whose long and
earnest labors, whose cultured, re-
fined disposition, whose dignity and
poise, whose church and home and
family relations, whose whole life
was model of purity and sincerity,
which will stand for many, many
years to come as an inspiration to
every one who came within his in
fiuence in the fifty-seven years that
he ministered to his people on
Washington Prairie. While for a
year or more he has been gradually
approaching the end, his death has
brought the kindly tear of sorrow
to many a cheek.
Ulrik Wilhelm Koren was born
in Bergen, Norway, Dec. 22, 1926,
and as he grew up attended the
latin school in Bergen until 1914.
He graduated from the University
of Christiania in 1852, and engaged
as teacher in Nissen's latin school
in Christiania. May 10, 1853 he
| finished his theological studies, and
was ordained TO the ministry July
Il, 1853. He was married Aug.
IS, 1853, to Miss Else Elizabeth
Hysing of Laurvig, Norway, and
having a call from Washington
Prairie (then called Little Iowa"
circuit) accepted it and came with
his wife to America, commencing
his work in December, 1853 He
was the first Norwegian minister to
settle west of the Mississippi river,
and for many years ministered to
wide territory covering north
eastern Iowa and southeastern Min
hescta, where there are now TWEEN
ty different ministers of the same
denomination and many more con-
gregations. On Christmas day, 1903,
he preached his fiftieth Christmas
sermon before the Washington Prai-
RE congregation, where he had liv-
ed during the whole time, his en-
tire life being spent in the service
of single congregation, a record
which is seldom if ever equalled
Add to this the intervening years
10 last year, and he preached fifty
SIX Christmas sermons to the same
congregation. Last year his health
would not permit him to occupy the
pulpit During his long career here
lie has received several calls to
prominent churches, but remained
steadfast 10 the people whom he
had served so long and loved so
we'll.
In 1855 Rev. Koren was mads
secretary of the Synod, and since
1861 has been a member of the
oh ch council. From 1871 to 1876
he served as vice-president, and
from 1876 to 1894 he was presi-
dent OF the Iowa district. Since
1894 he has held the honored posi-
ton of President of the Synod. He
made the purchase Of the land upon
which Luther College stands, and in !
1919 was teacher in the college |
Outside of his regular ministerial |
work, he has written many articles |
for Norwegian church and literary
publications, and published numer- |
Gus books and pamphlets upon vari-
Gus topics. He was also very prom
lnently connected with the compil- |
Ing of the Synod hymn book.
In 1903 he was created a Doctor |
of Divinity, and the same year was
decorated by Oscar II, King of Nor
way and Sweden with the Order of |
st. Olaf, with the rank of Com |
mander of st. Olaf, being the only !
person in America to hold this title. |
AS minister he is said to have |
had few equals A man of splendid |
education, ripe experience and great |
capacity for work, his sermons have |
been listened to with profound in |
terest throughout all these many
years by the fathers, mothers, chill |
dren and grandchildren who afTiliat-
ed with his church.
A most estimable family of chill
dren blessed this homestead, all
but one of whom remain TO mourn
with the aged wife and mother:
Miss Henrietta, at home; Mrs. Prof.
A. +. Naeseth of Luther College;
Albert, who died in Colorado some
years ago; John, of Boston, Mass.
Rev. Paul Koren, associate pastor
with his father at Washington Prai-
RE church; Prof William Koren,
professor Of French at Princeton
University Mrs. Rev. |. b. Tori
son of DEBORAH; Miss Marie, at
home.
The funeral services will be held
at Washington Prairie church,
which he served so long at one o.
clock Friday afternoon. In order
to give friends who desire an OPP
portunity to view the remains, the
casket will be taken to the church
and will be open from eleven until
no