Westhoff, Dietrich J. “Dick,” 1881-1935
WESTHOFF, RICKLEFS, LUDWIGS
Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35
From the Sioux Center News, February 14, 1935:
Killed By Falling Tree
Mr. and Mrs. Tunis de Bondt and Mr. Jensen attended the funeral services held for Dick J. Westhoff, 53, a life long resident of Grant township who was killed late Friday afternoon at his home when a tree fell on him.
The evening before his death the family celebrated the recent marriages of one of his daughters and of his only son. Another daughter was married a few weeks ago.
Mr. Westhoff was contemplating on retiring from the farm this spring and was making arrangements to move to LeMars to live. He was making a deal to buy a residence there.
Mr. Westhoff was a patron on the cream route which is taken care of Tunis de Bondt.
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From the Hawarden Independent, February 14, 1935:
Dietrich J. Westhoff, 53, a lifelong resident of Plymouth county, was killed late last Friday afternoon when a tree fell on him. Mr. Westhoff, with other members of the family, was engaged in chopping down a tree in the grove on his farm. As the tree fell, which the workers had been trying to direct in an easterly direction, it swerved and fell in a southwesterly direction. A limb struck Mr. Westhoff on the back of the head, splitting his skull and crushing him face first into the muddy ground.
Mr. Westhoff was contemplating retiring from active life this spring and was making arrangements to move to LeMars where he was making a deal to buy a residence. He is survived by his wife, one son, two daughters, two brothers and two sisters.
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RESEARCH NOTES
His death certificate has him as Dietrich Jansen Westhoff, resident of Grant Township, Plymouth County [on the south border of Sioux County]; a farmer; born May 6, 1881 in Plymouth County; parents Johnson Gerdes Westhoff and Maria Ricklefs, both born in Germany; wife Gretje Helena Ludwigs; informant is Dick Westhoff Jr.; died at 5 p.m. February 8, 1935 of a fractured skull, tree fell on him.
The Plymouth County marriage register for 1905 has groom Diedrich Westhoff, age 25, residence Grant Township, a farmer, parents Jansen Gerdes Westhoff and Maria Ricklefs; bride Gretie Ludwigs, age 20, resident of Grant Township; parents Gerd Jansen Ludwigs and Anna Margaretha Ludwigs; married December 14, 1905.
He signs his World War I draft registration card as Dick Janssen Westhoff and gives his wife’s name as Gratie Westhoff. His physical description: tall, stout, grey eyes, dark hair.
Sioux Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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