VanWechel, Ira 1861-1914

VANWECHEL, DEGROTE, MOIR

Posted By: Viv Reeves (email)
Date: 3/18/2005 at 10:20:34

From the LeMars Sentinel, Tuesday, October 27, 1914, Page 1, Column 7:

FORMER OLD RESIDENT DIES
Ira Van Wediel (sic--Wechel) Passes Away at Minnesota Home

Ira D. Van Wechel was born in Fon Du Lac, Wisconsin, September 19, 1861 and died in Moorehead, Minn., October 18, 1914.

He was married in 1883 to Etta De Grote who died in 1887. To this union two daughters were born.

He was married again May 22, 1889, at Maurice, Iowa, to Agnes Moir, of Orange City, where they lived for two years, moving to Seney, Iowa, where they lived for eight years and from there went to Wilkin county, Minn. To this union were born seven children. When a youth the deceased united with the Dutch Reformed church of Orange City and ever since has been faithful in attending divine services and supporting the gospel.

He was a tender husband, kind father and a helpful neighbor. He was trusted by his neighbors to the extent that he held the office of school clerk in his home district for fourteen years.

His near relatives are a sister living in Chatsworth, Iowa, two brothers, Wm., of Rudgard (sic--Rudyard), Mont., Jay N., North Yakima, Wash. He also leaves two children by his first marriage, Julia Warner, of Wolverton, Minn., and Etta Kraise, Kansas City, Kan. Also seven children by his second marriage, Lavina Booth, Wolverton, Minn., Ida Ernst, Salem, Minn., Frank, Clarence, Floyd, Ethel and Lawrence at home.

The funeral service was held at his late home Wednesday, October 22, at two o'clock, Rev. P. A. St. John, of Battle Lake, Minn., his pastor, officiating, taking for his text 1st Cor. 15:26. A large company was present and many teams and automobiles followed the remains to the grave, where interment was made.