DOYEN, Heiko H. 1878-1947

DOYEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/29/2015 at 08:21:21

Heiko H. Doyen, Oldest Wellsburg Merchant Dies

Heiko H. Doyen died at his home in Wellsburg at 7 o'clock Friday morning. He had been afflicted with a heart ailment for a number of years which at different times confined him to his apartment under a doctor's care. Each time he was able to recover and to be permitted to return to his place in his store. His last attack which came about a week before his death was more severe than the others and there was not enough vitality remaining to sustain life. He was 69 years old last September.

Ends Long Business Career
Heiko Doyen was engaged in business in Wellsburg for more years than any other person. At the age of ten he became an assistance in his father's store at Wellsburg and upon the death of his father in 1924 he took over the store management, assisted by his brother John. He remained daily at his post and took time out rarely for a vacation. Very few men in business during their lifetime devote themselves so exclusively to their business as did Heiko Doyen. He lived that way because that was the way he liked it. He could have taken time out from his business for recreation and enjoyment as many others do if he had wished to. For him, his home, his family, his business and his friends were for him complete comfort, contentment and satisfaction.

Doyens Pioneers In Business
The Doyen name has been associated in business longer in Wellsburg than any other. The family came to Wellsburg in 1881 and engaged in business here. There were only three business houses in the town at the time and Doyen's was one of the three. There are not many of the patrons of the Doyen store in its early days still living. There are still a few who traded at the Doyen store a half century ago who are still its customers. They have been satisfied with the service given them. They have felt that they were treated honestly and fairly. That was Heiko Doyen's fixed policy in life and he carried it through during his long business career. He was open and above board in all of his dealings, not only in business but with his friends and neighbors. He will be long missed in the town and the community.

Was Born In Chicago
Heiko Doyen was born in Chicago Sept. 30, 1878. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Doyen. At the age of three he came with other members of his family to Wellsburg and he had probably not been away from the town more than a month during his lifetime after he came here. He was not married. His mother died in 1912 and his father passed away in 1924. Since the parents' death, he and his sister Bertha made their home together in a comfortable apartment over the hardware and furniture store. For a number of years he served as a member of the Wellsburg town council.

Heiko Doyen came from a family of ten children. Two of them died in infancy. Three others preceded him in death, one brother George and two sisters, Mrs. George F. Mach and Mrs. W. E. Reed. Surviving brothers and sisters are Mrs. Pete Peters of Worthington, Minn.; Mrs. Florence Meyer, Marshalltown; Bertha Doyen and John Doyen, of Wellsburg; and Mrs. Jay C. Heilman, Waterloo. There are 14 surviving nephews and nieces.

Funeral Services Monday
Funeral services were held Monday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Doyen at 1:30 and later at the Wellsburg Reformed church. Rev. Edward Jurgens was the officiating pastor. Burial was in the cemetery adjoining the church.

The casket bearers were nephews. They are Oran Meyer, John Doyen Jr., Elwood Doyen, Sherman Reed, Sheridan Reed and Robert Heilman.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 1 January 1948, pg 16