Talsma, William John – 1929-1943

TALSMA

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:29

Memorial Rites Held For Boy Here Tuesday
A memorial service for Billy Talsma, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Talsma, was held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at the Newton Christian Reformed church with the Rev. F. M. Huisenga officiating.
Private services were held in the Talsma home near Colfax at 1:45 p.m. with the Rev. Mr. Huisenga in charge. A song based on Psalm 103 was sung by the quartet.
At the church, Psalm 90 and the first 10 verses of II Corinthians were read. Basing his remarks on II Corinthians 5:1, the Rev. Mr. Huisenga called attention to the comfort to be derived by Christians from the scriptural teachings regarding the relation between the body and the soul, the nature of death, and the hope of the resurrection.
The picture of Billy which stood on the alter surrounded by flowers, was moved to the church by which the many friends passed on their way out.
The flowers at the service were taken to the river and from the bridge strewn on the water in tribute to Billy.
Music was provided by John Baarda, Mrs. Warren LaFoon, Elizabeth Slings and John Slings, the Christian Reformed Church quartette.
Honorary pallbearers were: Harry Lanser, Junior Rozendaal, William Vonk, William Van Arkel, Fred Swank, and Ed Slings, boys close to Billy’s age. (Burial at Rorabaugh cemetery.)
William John Talsma was born Sept. 28, 1929 and was last seen wading in the Skunk river Aug. 15, 1943. Billy would have been 14 years old on Sept. 28. He is survived by his parents, one brother, Jimmy, and three sisters, Dorothy, Eunice and Carolyn.
The Talsmas have lived for the past four years on the farm where they now reside near Colfax. Prior to that they lived around Kellogg and the family is well known around Sully,
Source: The Newton Daily News; Wednesday, August 25, 1943
Additional information:
The Newton Daily News reported on the drowning on Monday, August 16, 1943 and the progress of recovering the bodies every day until they were recovered.
The body of 14-year-old Billy Talsma was discovered the morning of August 25, 1943, on the tenth day after the drowning, about 2 ½ miles downstream from here the boys disappeared at the Colfax bridge.
The body of Johnny Dolinsek, 15, was found about 5 miles downstream from the Colfax bridge on the third day after the drowning.