Willms, Dirck J. 1851-1937

WILLMS, BOHLKEN, HELLING, POPKEN, FRERICHS

Posted By: Glenna Rice, volunteer (email)
Date: 2/9/2012 at 14:37:24

Dirck J. Willms

Early Settler Taken by Death

Well Known and Successful Farmer Located Here In The Seventies

Death claimed Dirck Willms, 85, well known pioneer of Plymouth county, at the home of his son-in-law, George Frerichs, 35 Fifth Avenue NW., where he made his home in recent years, on Tuesday night.

Mr. Willms came to LeMars sixty years ago and located on land northwest of town and was one of the stalwart and vigorous men, who did their part in developing the prairie and building up the community. He farmed successfully, taking the good and bad seasons as they came without excess exaltation or undue complaining, and was an earnest christian gentleman, regardful of his own rights and those of his fellow men.

Dirck Jansen Willms was born at Riepsholdt (Reepsholt), Germany, August 1, 1851, where he received his early schooling and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith and worked at various occupations. Attaining his majority he left his native land in 1872 and came to America to better his fortune. Coming west he joined a number of his countrymen, who had settled near Monticello, in Jones county, Iowa, where he worked for five years coming to LeMars five years later.

He was married to Sophia Helling in Grant township February 26, 1878 and they enjoyed a long and happy wedded life. Mrs. Willms died December 17, 1935.

Mr. and Mrs. Willms were members of the Grant township Lutheran church for many years, and on their coming to LeMars, were faithful attendants of St. John's Lutheran church. Up to the time of his death Mr. Willms served as an elder of the church.

He leaves a son, John, Willms, of LeMars, two daughters, Mrs. George Frericks of LeMars, and Mrs. Herman Popken, of Struble, eleven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 1:30 at St. John's Lutheran church, Rev. L. L. Belk, the paster, officiating, and interment made in the LeMars cemetery.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Friday, January 8, 1937; page 8, column 4
LeMars, Plymouth, Iowa

Family note: Dirck J. Willms was the brother of Margaretha Willms Bohlken, wife of Gerd Siefken "Siefke" Bohlken.