MEESTER, William 1877-1949

MEESTER, AGENA

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/25/2016 at 19:13:20

William Meester Died Monday Following Stroke

William Meester died at seven o'clock Monday morning at his home in Pleasant Valley township 2 1/2 miles north of the Pleasant Valley Reformed church. He suffered paralytic stroke at his home Thursday evening. One of his sons was with him at the time. Other members of the family were attending the anniversary church services. The right side was completely disabled and he was unable to speak. He was unable to recover from the stroke and continued to get weaker until the end came. His health had been good previous to the stroke, up to the last few days when he was not as active as usual.

Resided in Same Locality All Of His Life
Mr. Meester was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Meester. He was born on the home farm in Pleasant Valley township October 21, 1877, and he grew up there. On March 2, 1904, he and Ida Agena were married. They began housekeeping on the farm where he died and spent all of their married life there.

Was Prosperous Farmer
Mr. Meester was one of Grundy county's most prosperous farmers. The place on which he lived is one of the best improved farms in Pleasant Valley township. The farm consists of 240 acres. Mr. Meester acquired a number of other farms during his lifetime. These farms are occupied by his children.

Came From A Family of 11
Mr. Meester came from a family of eleven children. One of these, a brother Daniel, preceded him in death. The surviving brothers and sisters are Joe, Hillert, John, Andrew and Harm. The four surviving sisters are Mrs. Jake Bergman, Mrs. John Oelman, Mrs. Joe A. Meester and Nettie, who is unmarried and who lives with her brother Andrew. All reside in this county.

Father of 6 Children
Mr. and Mrs. Meester were the parents of six children who with the mother survive. The children are: three sons, Jake, Harold and Harvey; the daughters, Mrs. Geo. Renken, Mrs. William Andreessen and Mrs. Lawrence Hartman.

Funeral Thursday
Funeral services were held at the home at one o'clock today and later at the Reformed church at Stout. The resident pastor, Rev. W. J. Hayenga, officiated at the service. Burial was in the cemetery adjoining the Pleasant Valley Reformed church.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 12 May 1949, pg 8

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Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Diekhoff, Emil and Geo. Diekhoff came from Rochester, Minn., Thursday to attend the funeral of their uncle, William Meester. The deceased was buried in the Stout cemetery, and not in the Pleasant Valley cemetery as was stated in last week's paper.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 19 May 1949, pg 9

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Will Meester Obituary

William Meester, known as Will Meester, was born in Pleasant Valley Township, south of the Pleasant Valley Reformed church, October 31, 1877, son of the deceased Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Meester.

On March 2, 1904, he was united in marriage with Ida Augena. This union was blessed with ten children. Upon their marriage they began farming south of Parkersburg, where they have continuously resided some forty-five years. March 2, last, it was their privilege to observe their 45th wedding anniversary in the presence of their children and grandchildren.

The departed suffered a stroke on Thursday evening, May 4th, from which he was not to be restored. He passed away Monday morning, about seven o'clock, May 9th, 1949, reaching an age of 71 years, 6 months and 10 days. Those that preceded him in death were 2 sons, and 2 daughters; 3 of them died in infancy, one son in 1914, when some 14 months old; his parents, 3 infant children, Daniel in 1942.

He is survived by his sorrowing wife, the 6 children, whose names are: Jake G., Parkersburg; Anna, Mrs. Geo. Renken, Parkersburg; Emma, Mrs. William Andreessen, Stout; Harold and Harvey at home; Esther, Mrs. Lawrence Hartman of Aplington; 13 grandchildren; 5 brothers and 4 sisters whose names are Joe J., Parkersburg; Hillerd, Parkersburg; Mrs. J. J. Bergman, Stout; Mrs. Joe A. Meester, Grundy Center; Mrs. John H. Oelman, Parkersburg; John E., Parkersburg; Nettie and Andrew, Parkersburg, besides other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, 1 p.m., May 12, 1949, at the house and then at the Reformed church of Stout with the pastor officiating. Interment in the family lot on the church cemetery at Stout. The pastor based his remarks on Romans 1,15: "Are you ready?" There was a large audience in attendance.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 2 June 1949, pg 3