Wellnitz, Hugo 1880-1966 and Clara Vlotho Family

WELLNITZ, VLOTHO, SCHULTZ, DITTMER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 10/17/2023 at 19:49:29

Wellnitz, Hugo 1880-1966 and Clara Vlotho Family

This story was taken from page 495 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg.

Hugo Wellnitz, born Nov. 22, 1880 on a farm near Mt. Olive, Il., and his buddy, Ed Gehner, came to the Ireton vicinity in 1902. He worked for Henry Vlotho, Sr. on his farm SE of Ireton (now occupied by Dr. Roger Reppert). Mr. Vlotho was to be his future father-in-law as Hugo married Clara Vlotho Dec. 13, 1906. While working for Mr. Vlotho, Hugo became very ill. A doctor was called and he did an emergency appendectomy, using the kitchen table as an operating table. The appendix had burst and gangrene had set in. the doctor said he would never make it. However, Hugo proved him wrong.

Another interesting incident in Hugo’s life occurred in the year 1920 when the Henry Vlotho, Sr. home was completely destroyed by fire on a Sunday morning between 11 and 12 o’clock noon. Stopping by after church, Hugo helped remove furniture from the burning house. He alone pulled the huge upright piano to safety.

Hugo and Clara lived on the farm NE of Ireton, (now occupied by their son-in-law, Walter Vander Hamm), until they moved to Ireton in the fall of 1942. They had one daughter, Velda, who was united in marriage to Walter Vander Hamm.

Clara died June 28, 1960 and Hugo died Sept. 20, 1966. Both are buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

RESEARCH NOTES: Added by Wilma J. Vande Berg From a family report on ancestry.com public member trees submitted by others.

Hugo A. Wellnitz was born 22 Nov 1880 Mount Olive IL and died 1966. His parents were August Julius Wellnitz 1856-1888 and Augusta Schultz 1857. He married Clara Augusta Maria Johana Vlotho 13 Dec 1908 Le Mars IA.

Clara Augusta Maria Johana Vlotho was born 14 Dec 1881 Sioux County IA died 1960. Her parents were John Henry vlotho 1853-1928 and Emillie Erestine Dittmer 1862-1911. Huog and Clara had one daughter Velda.

Child of Hugo and Clara Wellnitz:
Velda Wellnitz born 17 Feb 1908 Reading Twp. Sioux County IA died 21 Jan 1976 Iowa City IA buried Ireton IA. She married Walter Earnest Louis Vander Hamm 1907-1988, married 1 Mar 1933 Ireton IA. They had two children Donald Douglas Vander Hamm 1933-1997 and Janice Elaine Vander Hamm 1937-1990. There is a separate story of Velda and Walter Vander Hamm in the Ireton Centennial book. As well as their obits are on this web page.

OBITUARY OF HUGO WELLNITZ
Le Mars Daily Sentinel, Le Mars, Plymouth, Iowa, USA Friday, Sept. 23, 1966 Page 2
HUGO WELLNITZ, 85, DIES UNEXPECTEDLY; FUNERAL SATURDAY
IRETON special — Funeral services for Hugo Wellnitz, 85, longtime Ireton resident, will be held Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic church in Struble. Burial will be in St. John cemetery beside his wife in the family plot. Rev. Richard Kiolbasa will officiate.
Mr. Wellnitz, a widely known farmer and cattle feeder, died Tuesday following a heart attack while visiting at the farm home of a son-in-law, Walter VanderHam. Mr. Wellnitz was about to enter his car when the attack occurred. He was assisted by a nephew, Paul VanderHam, a rural mail carrier, who was delivering mail at the time. Mr. VanderHam called for aid from others on the farm.
Mr. Wellnitz was born Nov. 22, 1881, in Illinois and came to Sioux county as a young man. He was married to Clara Vlotho Dec. 13, 1906, and the couple farmed at Ireton until their retirement to a home in Ireton 15 years ago. Mrs. Wellnitz died six years ago.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Walter (Velda) VanderHam of Ireton; two grandsons, Donald of Grand Island and Leland of Holstein, a granddaughter, Mrs. Walter Schipper, and seven great-grandchildren.

OBITUARY OF CLARA WELLNITZ
Le Mars DAILY SENTIHEL, Le Mars, Plymouth, Iowa, USA Tuesday. July 12. 1960 Page 6
MRS. HUGO WELLNITZ LIFELONG IRETON AREA RESIDENT DEAD
Mrs. Hugo Wellnitz, 78, died Tuesday, June 28. at the Hawarden hospital after a heart ailment, with which she was stricken about three weeks ago.
Clara Vlotho Wellnitz was born Dec. 14. 1881, on a farm southeast of Ireton, where the Orville Vlotho family resides.
She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Vlotho. Dec. 6, 1906 she was married to Hugo Wellnitz. She has lived her entire life time in the Ireton vicinity and in Ireton. The couple farmed a number of years before retiring and moving to Ireton. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was a member of St. John Lutheran church east of Ireton.
She is survived by her husband; one daughter, Velda (Mrs. Walter Vander Hamm) of Ireton; three grandchildren, Donald Vander Hamm, Hastings, Neb., Mrs. Walter Schipper of Granite City, Illinois, and Leland Vander Hamm of Ireton; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Gustav Vlotho of Le Mars; two sisters; Mrs. Arthur Salberg, Long Beach, Calif.
Funeral services were Friday, July 1, at ,1:30 at St. John Lutheran church. A service for the family was held at 10 a. m, at the home. Rev. Frank Hill officiated.
Casket bearers were Martin Eilts, Emery Vlotho, Otis Wandling, George and Roy Wandling and Harold Vlieger. Burial was in St. John Lutheran cemetery under the direction of the Satterlee funeral home.

Le Mars Globe Post, Le Mars, Plymouth, Iowa, USA Thursday, June 30, 1960
Mrs. H. Wellnitz ( I r e t o n Special)
Mrs. Hugo Wellnitz of Ireton passed away Tuesday, June 28 at 7 p. m. at the Hawarden hospital. She had been sick for three weeks.
Mrs. Wellnitz had resided in the Ireton vicinity all her life being born December 14, 1881 on a farm Southeast of Ireton. Her marriage to Hugo Wellnitz took place December 6, 1908.
Funeral services will be at 10 a. m. Friday for the immediate family and at 1:30 p. m. at St. John's Lutheran church southeast of Ireton. Burial will be in St. John's cemetery. Rev. Frank Hill will officiate.
Survivors include the widower; a daughter, Mrs.: Walter Vander Hamm of Ireton; three grandchildren, Donald Vander Hamm, Ireton; Mrs., Walter Schipper, Hastings, Nebraska; Leland Vander Hamm of Granite City, Illinois; a brother, Gus Vlotho, Le Mars; two sisters, Mrs. R. HI. Eilts, Le Mars and Mrs. Arthur Salberg, Long Beach, California.

This picture taken from the Ireton Centennial book page 395.

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