WICK, Henry Augustus 1865-1937

WICK, MOBERLY CAMPBELL, MESSNER, STUKENBURG, ZORNIG, BRUZER, CAMPBELL

Posted By: Linda Wood (email)
Date: 1/2/2003 at 07:45:21

WICK, HENRY AUGUSTUS
Lyon County Reporter, Rock Rapids, Iowa--Thursday following his death on August l5, 1937
Henry Augustus Wick was born in Shannon, Illinois on January 16, 1865. At the age of 12, with his family, he moved to a farm near Parkersburg, Iowa. In 1892, as a young man, he came to Lester and engaged in the hardware business, being also postmaster, as the post office was located in the store building at that time. Later he managed the city scale office for 11 years.

In 1892 he was married to Bertha Moberly and to them three children were born, two sons and a daughter. [another child, twin of the daughter, was still born. Bertha died from this childbirth] In 1904 Mrs. Wick died and in 1906 he was united in marriage to Lottie Campbell. To this union one daughter was born.

After giving up the scale office, he purchased a Lester meat market, which he operated for some years, until together with the Campbell brothers, his step-sons, he acquired the General Merchandise business in Lester, in which he was engaged the remainder of his life.

Many public offices were held by him. He was mayor of Lester for many years and after giving up this office, he served as town clerk during the rest of his life. Records show about 40 years on the Lester school board for Mr. Wick as president or member, giving his time and effort and assuming the responsibilities incurred in such service.

He was a faithful member of the Masonic lodge for many years. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge while it was maintained in Lester. He served as trustee of the local Methodist church and always helped to look after its business when that church was no longer served by a minister.

Mr. Wick was taken sick on Monday, August 9, suffering a heart attack and a stroke which left him partially paralyzed. All that medical aid could offer was provided, but pneumonia developed and he died August 15, 1937. The funeral was held August 17th at 2:0'clock from the Methodist church at Lester. A. H. Lockwood was the director.

Services were impressively conducted by Rev. Lease, minister of the Rock Rapids Methodist Church.
Beautiful floral offerings expressed the sympathy of the community and the esteem in which Mr. Wick was held by all. A quintet of young men rendered three appropriate selections, accompanied on the piano by Mrs. John Van Whye, who also played the processional. At the grave, officers and members of the Masonic lodge had charge of the services, effectively carrying out the symbolic funeral rites of that order.

The funeral was attended by many from town, country and nearby towns. Friends and relatives came from Leeds, Parkersburg, Burlington, Sioux City and Hinton, Iowa, from Milwaukee, Wis., Wilmont, Makato, and Hancock, Minnesota.

Pall bearers were August Maurer, Fred Haegele, Cladius Hass, Harry Hollenbeck, Lou Chamberlain and Joe Brucken.

Those mourning his passing are his widow, Mrs. Lottie Wick; two sisters, Mrs. Sara Messner and Mrs. Minnie Stukenburg; two sons, Elvin of Burlington, Iowa and Harold of Milwaukee, Wis.; two daughters, Maurine, Mrs. Gus Zornig of near Rock Rapids and Helen, Mrs. John Bruzer, of Rock Rapids, two step-sons, Arch Campbell of Mankato, Minn. and Carl Campbell of Wilmont, Minnesota; twelve grandchildren and a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

In the passing of this pioneer, the community has lost an active, hard-working business man, who was always at his post, a generous and helpful friend. Always willing to give aid and hospitality to everyone. A public servant, loyal to town and country and a dependable supporter of very worthwhile public enterprise. The sympathy of the community goes out to those in the bereft home, in which he was a devoted husband and father.

Forty-five years, Henry Wick lived in Lester and in passing, will be missed by everyone, but the memory and example of this life of work and devotion will remain with all forever.