Wilken, Eilert 1867-1952

WILKEN, SPECHT, HEEREN, HERREN, HERRON

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/8/2018 at 18:58:58

Note: His wife's maiden name was Heeren, Herren, or Herron.

DEATH COMES TO EILERT WILKEN LAST SATURDAY

Rites Held Monday For Well-Known Chatsworth Man

Eilert Wilken, a resident of Plymouth County and Chatsworth, Iowa, for the past sixty-six years, died last Saturday. His health had been failing for the past several years. He entered the Hawarden hospital on February 6, and passed away on February 10. He reached the age of 85 years, 8 months and 23 days.

Eilert Wilken was born on May 9, 1867, at Riepen,, Germany, the son of Johann Wilken and Geske Margaretha Specht. He was baptized on May 26, 1867, and confirmed April 2, 1882, in the Lutheran Church at Etzel, Germany. As a youth he learned the blacksmith trade and spent two years as apprentice. On February 22, 1890, at the age of 18, he left Germany and came to the United States coming directly to Le mars, Iowa.

He farmed in Grant Township for many years, and in 1901 he moved to a farm near Chatsworth, Iowa. He was a charter member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Chatsworth, which was organized in 1905. He was united in marriage with Kathlena Herren February 23, 1894, and to this union six children were born. Mrs. Wilken passed away in 1940 and since that time, with the exception of the last year or so, he lived alone in Chatsworth.

Left to mourn are the following children: Mrs. Toni Bockelman, of Hawarden; William, of Hawarden, John, of Akron; Eilert, of Chatsworth; Louis, of Jefferson, and Mrs. Ann Vogelzang, of Bristow, Oklahoma; 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held on Monday at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity-Lutheran Church, Akron, with the Rev. J. Pannkuk, in charge. Esther Hitzemann, Mrs. George Hitzemann and Mabel Long sang, “Abide with Me” and “Asleep in Jesus,” accompanied on the organ by Mrs. J. Pannkuk. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery. Pallbearers were John Robertson, Herman Meinen, John Miniets, Sr., John Bultman, Sr., George Mohlman, and Lawrence Patrick.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, February 21, 1952
Akron, Iowa