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Vanderflute, Hessel Horace

VANDERFLUTE, BAGULEY, BIERMA

Posted By: Lisa Joan Walden (email)
Date: 7/9/2021 at 18:04:03

Hessel Horace, son of Itske and Anna Bierma Vanderflute was born near Lamoni on July 5, 1881. He died at his home in Lamoni, Nov. 1, 1952, at the age of 71 years, three months, and 27 days.

He was the sixth child of a family of nine, three boys and six girls. Both of his parents, one brother, Webe of Pendleton, Ore., and one sister, Mrs. Cora Bee, have preceded him in death. His mother died when he was only seven years of age, leaving the care of the younger children to the father and to the older sisters.

He grew to manhood in Lamoni and vicinity and graduated from Lamoni high school in the class of 1900. He also attended Graceland College for 3 years and later continued his education at Cedar Falls Teachers' College, and Iowa State College at Ames, and Iowa State University. He took summer school work and graduated from Iowa State University at the end of the summer session in 1928 with a B. A. degree. He took much advanced work in summer sessions and correspondence courses after this.

He was a railway mall clerk stationed in Chicago from 1914 to 1918. He also owned and operated a grocery and produce store in Lamoni for about eight years. He did some farming and dairying, but much of his adult life was spent In teaching in country schools, grade schools, and high schools.

He was superintendent of schools in Decatur, Wayne, Taylor, Union, and Ringgold counties. The last five years of his teaching were done in Grand River high school. He retired from this position in the spring of 1951. He was always much interested In his former pupils and during his last illness enjoyed many visits from them and a very large number of cards and letters.

He was baptized a member of the Reorganized Latter Day Saint church when a young man and remained true to his convictions until the end of his life.

He was married to Ruby Baguley on Feb. 7, 1916. Three children were born to them: James Hessel, who was killed in an accident April 2, 1939, at the age of 21 years; Eleanor Ruth, now Mrs. Gale Hoffman of Shannon City, Iowa; and Margaret June, a registered nurse, who cared for him with great devotion during his entire illness.

He leaves to mourn his departure his wife, two daughters, a son-in-law, Gale Hoffman, who has been as a son to him, three grandsons, Mark, Randy and Jimmy Gene Hoffman, who were the pride and joy of his life and who were very fond of grandpa. He Is also survived by five sisters and one brother.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 2 o'clock from the Marsh funeral chapel. He had planned the arrangements himself and they were carried out according to his wishes. Elder J. W. Barr, a life-long friend, was the speaker; W. E. Hayer, a neighbor and boyhood friend, had charge and Rev. W. J. Weber, pastor of the Grand River Methodist church which he had attended for five years, made a few fitting remarks about his life there.

Those who carried him to his last resting place were neighbors and very good friends who had done much for him during his last illness. They were F. E. Tapscott, Albert Haynes, Clarence Allen, Meredith Reese, James Roberts, and Charles Ballantyne.

The singers were also those of his choice. Mrs. Wanda Derry and Mrs. Gertrude Walden sang, "In the Garden" and "Still, Still With Thee," and Henry Anderson of the Graceland faculty sang a very beautiful solo, "Across the Far Blue Hills of Time."

Source: The Lamoni Chronicle, published in Lamoni, Iowa on Thursday, November 13th, 1952, pg 8

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Decatur Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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