Carl Willms 1884-1951

WILLMS, LUERKENS, ARHELGER, HAGEN, REUTER, GERDES, HEEREN, JOHNSON, HAYEN, TIETJEN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 11/14/2021 at 08:03:32

4 October 1951 - Monticello Express

Funeral services were held Monday, Sept. 24, for Carl Jansen Willms, who passed away Friday following a lingering illness. Services were held at the Wayne Zion Lutheran church, with Rev. F. H. Kehren officiating.

Born Nov. 12, 1884, at Westerhold, Kreis Wittmund, Ostfriesland, Germany, he was the son of Oltmann Willms and his wife Antje Harms Willms. He was one of ten children, four sons and six daughters. He came to America in November, 1902 and entered Wartburg college at Clinton.

On June 13, 1903, he was married to Eta Margareta Luerkens and they became the parents of seven children, five daughters and two sons. They farmed near Scotch Grove, then for three years in Gilead, Neb., returning to Monticello, and then farmed in Castle Grove township for 23 years. They later moved to Anamosa where he was a guard in the state reformatory.

On Friday he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and became a patient at Mercy hospital, Anamosa.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Eta Willms, and the following children: Anna, Mrs. Ernest Arhelger, Meyersville, Texas; Dena, Mrs. George Hagen, Center Junction; Louise, Mrs. Elwill Reuter, Monticello; Grace, Mrs. Harm Gerdes, Strawberry Point; Clara, Mrs. Lawrence Heeren, Monticello; Clarence of Monticello, and Walter, of Anamosa. He is also survived by two step daughters, Christina Johnson, at home and Anna, Mrs. John Hayen, Monticello; 21 grandchildren; three brothers, Rev. John P. Willms of Greene, Engwert of Amber and William of Holstein, Germany, and a sister, Elise Tietjen, also of Germany.

His parents and five sisters preceded him in death.

Pallbearers included Harry Gerjets, Arnold Willms, Richard Antons, Raymond Antons, John Lurkens, and Henry Lurkens. Commitment was made at the Wayne Zion cemetery.