VanWechel, Allen, 1878-1956

VANWECHEL, MUILENBURG

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/27/2011 at 18:57:14

ALLAN VAN WECHEL RITES HELD MONDAY AT AM. REF. CHURCH

Funeral services for Allen Van Wechel, 78, were held Monday at 2:15 p.m., in the American Reformed church with Rev. LeRoy Nattress and Rev. C. Muyskens officiating. Mrs. William Hospers and Eugene Mulder furnished special music. Interment was made in the Orange City cemetery with his five sons and his son-in-law serving as pallbearers.

Allen Van Wechel was born to Mr. and Mrs. Arend Van Wechel on March 1, 1878, at the Van Wechel homestead just southwest of Orange City. On April 2, 1902, he was married to Wilhelmina Muilenburg, who died March 11, 1943. They came to Orange City in 1914.

Mr. Van Wechel's chosen profession was teaching, which he did for many years at Maurice, Sioux Center, and Orange City. He served as principal of the junior high for 16 years. He was also a rural mail carrier for several years; bookkeeper at Cambier's during the 2nd World War, and since 1946, when able, kept books at the Self-Serve Grocery, owned by his son, Kenneth. He also refinished and rebuilt furniture and painted and decorated many homes in this vicinity. He was a member of the American Reformed church and of the Modern Woodmen of the World.

The last four years of his life found him in declining health, spending several months of each year in bed. He had been bedfast since November, 1955, except for short periods just the last few weeks. He died in the Grossmann hospital, June 16.

Surviving him are his sons, Clarence of Manchester, Raymond of Vinton, Kenneth of Orange City, Melvin of Grinnell, Verlyn of Vinton and Lloyd of Orange City; also his daughters, Mrs. Earl Lundquist of Keron, Geraldine Westfall of Grinnell, and Helen at home; also, 15 grandchildren, two half-sisters, and one half-brother.

Source: Sioux County Capital, June 21, 1956.