DEHAAN, Hilka (Garrels) 1867-1937

DEHAAN, GARRELS, MEESTER, CONE, BUSCH, HARMS, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Lana Kratz (email)
Date: 1/14/2010 at 12:38:05

The body of Mrs. John DeHaan, 70, was found in the Rock river, at the north end of Island park Tuesday morning. Marshal Del Woodbrun found the body, after a search which had been instituted by members of the family of the dead woman.
According to the story told local officials, Mrs. DeHaan was in her bed 2 a.m., Tuesday, when a daughter looked into her room. When next her daughter visited the room, at 4 a.m., it was vacant. An immediate search was started for Mrs. DeHaan, and after a couple of hours of fruitless search, local officials were notified and joined in the hunt.
Seen About 3 O'Clock
Warren Norris reported that a woman answering Mrs. DeHaan's description passed the Lyon hotel shortly after 3 o'clock headed east. It is thought that she was then on her way to the park. It was about 8 o'clock when Marshal Woodburn noticed what was apparently a rock in the river some 100 feet east of the concrete bridge leading to the scout camp. Investigation revealed it to be the missing woman's body.
A bruise on the forehead lead local officials to the belief that Mrs. DeHaan waded into the stream east of the bridge, slipped or tripped on a rock, was rendered unconscious and drowned.
Poor Health Cause
Mrs. DeHaan had been in poor health for several months. Some three months ago she was in a hospital for a short time. It is thought that this illness brought about the derangement leading to her death.
Coroner Lockwood said yesterday that no inquest would be held.
Mrs. DeHaan, nee Garrels, was born June 23, 1867, near Emden in East Friesland, Germany. In the spring of 1884 she came to America with her mother, coming west as far as Holland, Grundy county, Iowa, where her mother died in the fall of that same year. On August 18, 1887 she was united in marriage to John DeHaan of Grundy county. Immediately after the marriage they came west to Lyon county in a lumber wagon, and settled on a farm, or rather prairie, southeast of George. In 1899 they moved onto their own farm south of Rock Rapids. In 1913 they retired from farm life and move to George, returning to Rock Rapids in 1926, where they have lived on Green street ever since.
She is survived and mourned by her husband, her five daughters, Mrs. Ella Meester, Mrs. Agnes Cone, Mrs. Helen Busch, all of Rock Rapids, Mrs. Anna Harms of George, and Mrs. Elizabeth Williams of Rock Rapids; nine grandchildren and other relatives, friends and neighbors. One son, John, died in 1919.
Funeral services will be held Friday at 1:30 p.m. from the home, and will be in charge of Rev. E. H. Mueller. Music will be furnished by the ladies' quintette, composed of Lucena Borman, Lorinda Langfeldt, Leona Mueller, Loretta Olson, Bernice Winter and Mrs. E. H. Mueller accompanist.
Mrs. DeHaan will be buried in the family lot of Riverview cemetery.

Lyon County Reporter Thursday July 8, 1937