VAHLSING, Harvey 1894-1952

VAHLING, FISHER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/27/2014 at 10:09:12

Harvey Vahlsing, Former Mayor Dies Suddenly

Harvey J. Vahlsing, who served as mayor of the town of Wellsburg for eight years, died very suddenly at his home in Wellsburg about 11 o'clock last Tuesday night. A group of friends including Rev. and Mrs. Dean Kasischke were at the Vahlsing home to spend the evening and Mr. Vahlsing was in his usual good health and the usual cordial host. He went to bed about eleven o'clock. A few minutes later Mrs. Vahlsing noticed that her husband was breathing heavily and she called her son, who immediately called Dr. Kienzle. The doctor came at once, but Mr. Vahlsing breathed his last a few moments after the doctor's arrival. A heart attack was the cause of the sudden death. He had not previously reported any heart trouble.

News of Mr. Vahlsing's sudden death was received with deep regret by his many friends and the friends of his family. He was 58 years old.

Funeral Services Saturday
Funeral services were held Saturday at one o'clock at the home and later at the Wellsburg Reformed church. Rev. Dean B. Kasischke officiated at the service. There was a very large attendance at the services. Among the attendants were many from Greene, Iowa, former home of the Vahlsing family.

Music at the service was by the choir of St. John's Lutheran church, with Mrs. Gordon Junker as organist.

The flower attendants were Mrs. Abe DeNeui and Mrs. George Sietsema, Jr. Ushers were Ernest DeNeui and Wilbur Rust.

The casketbearers were Albert Loots, Harm R. Rust, J. L. Fischer, Ibe Harms Jr., John Heinrich and C. W. Ross. Honorary casketbearers, Dickie DeNeui, Harold Fischer, Dr. Harry Heddens, Donald Gummert and R. B. Tjaden.

Obituary
The following obituary was prepared by the officiating pastor and read at the church service:

Harvey Julius Vahlsing, son of Dick and Anna Vahlsing, was born May 12, 1894 in Butler county, Iowa.

He was baptized in early infancy and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran church, Vilmar, on Apr. 26, 1908, by Rev. Conrad Weltner. In 1910 his membership was transferred to St. Peter's Lutheran church in Greene where he served as an active member until he moved to Wellsburg in 1930.

In 1942 he helped organize St. John's church, Wellsburg, and has served as elder since that time. It was largely thru his diligent efforts under the blessing of God that the church was organized and established.

Mr. Vahlsing attended rural schools in the Greene community and later attended Wartburg college in Waverly. On Sept. 19, 1917 he was united in marriage to Cordelia Fisher at St. Peter's Lutheran church in Greene, by Rev. H. Srugies. This union was blessed with two daughters, Eleanor and Lorraine.

Mr. Vahlsing resided on a farm near Greene until 1928, owned and operated the Wellsburg Cafe in Wellsburg for 8 years, and followed various occupations since. He was active in community affairs, serving as mayor for 8 years, retiring a year ago, and was active on the Wellsburg school board.

His passing is mourned by his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Norman Harms of Wellsburg, Mrs. Willard Loots of Marshalltown, and one son, Don Vahlsing of St. Paul, Minn., and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Clarence and sister, Valma.

Mr. Vahlsing died suddenly after retiring on Tuesday evening, Dec. 30, at 11:15 p.m., having suffered a heart attack. He was 58 years, 7 months and 18 days old.

Interment was made in the Shiloh cemetery at Wellsburg.

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 1:00 at the home and later at the Wellsburg Reformed church. Rev. Dean B. Kasischke, pastor of St. John's Lutheran church, was in charge.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 8 January 1953, Wellsburg News, Section 2, pg 2-3