Vagts, Wilhelm "Bill" 1913-2001

VAGTS, MEYER, DICKMANN

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 2/26/2014 at 22:23:28

Source: North West Iowa Review Sheldon (6-16-2001)

Born: March 2, 1913
Died: June 7, 2001

Wilhelm “Bill” Martin Vagts, 88, died Thursday, June 7, at Good Samaritan Center in George. Services were Monday, June 11, at United Presbyterian Church in Boyden, with the Rev. Kenneth MacLeod officiating. Burial was at Sheridan Township Cemetery in Boyden, under the direction of Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Boyden.

Wilhelm Vagts, son of C.L. Henry and Meta Meyer Vagts, was born March 2, 1913, on a farm near George. He attended St. John’s Lutheran Day School near Boyden. He was baptized into the Lutheran faith on March 21, 1913, and was confirmed on April 3, 1926, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Boyden. He married Erma F.K. Dickmann on November 5, 1935, on his parents’ farm near George. They moved to Boyden, where he was employed by Farmers Cooperative Creamery, hauling cream, and later became a butter maker. He worked there for almost 25 years until its closing. Later, he worked at Boyden Lumber Yard and for Smit and Son of Boyden. They enjoyed visiting and spending time at Good Samaritan Center in George. He would entertain the residents with his accordion music. He became a resident of Good Samaritan Center in March 1997. He continued to entertain the residents and his family and shared his love of music by performing for them on his 88th birthday. He was a member of United Presbyterian Church in Boyden and enjoyed playing cards with his friends.

Survivors include his wife, Erma Vagts; six daughters, Marlene and Gerald Hollander of Mason City, Marian Dunnick of El Cajon, California, Marie and Homer Daniel of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Bonnie and Nick Berklich of Grand Blanc, Missouri, Beverley and Ivan Doorenbos of Boyden, and Peggy Vagts and husband Mark Miller of Dover, New Hampshire; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; a sister, Martha Woelber of Breckenridge, MN; and a sister-in-law, Mae Vagts of Wahpeton, North Dakota.

He was preceded in death by four brothers; three sisters; a sister-in-law, Emily Vagts; and a son-in-law, Clairnell Dunnick.