Boever, John H., 1855-1939

BOEVER, WELTER, ZARIS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/1/2021 at 15:22:13

From the Sioux County Capital, November 9, 1939:

OBITUARIES—JOHN H. BOEVER

John Boever, 83, died Friday in the Le Mars hospital. He is survived by 6 daughters and 5 sons. Mr. Boever was born in Luxemburg, Europe, and came to this country when he was 20. For 36 years he lived south of Granville and then moved to town. He was married to Margaret Welter for over 50 years. She preceded him in death a few years ago. Funeral services were held at Granville Monday and he was buried in St. Joseph’s cemetery.

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From the Alton Democrat, November 10, 1939:

DEATH CALLS GRANVILLE RESIDENT

The entire community was shocked and grieved to hear of the death of one of its highly respected citizens when Mr. John Boever, Sr., passed away at the Sacred Heart hospital, LeMars, Friday evening Nov. 9 [i.e., Nov. 3] at nine o’clock at the age of 84 years and two weeks. He was taken to the hospital several weeks ago where he died from infirmities of old age.

Mr. Boever was born Dec. 26, 1855, at Eischen, Luxemburg (Europe). He was a life-long member of the Catholic church and was a man of deep religious conviction which was reflected in his daily associations among his family and friends. In his passing the bereaved family loses a loving father and the community one of its most loyal and creditable citizens.

John Boever was married to Margaret Welter at Aurora, Ill., in 1882. They made their home there for several years and then moved south of Granville where they farmed 36 years, after which they retired and moved into the town of Granville. His wife preceded him in death July 25, 1937.

Six daughters and five sons were born to the union, as follows: Peter of Belgrade, Minn.; Mike of Dell Rapids, S.D.; Frank of Ledyard and Herman who lives on the home farm; John of Marcus; Elizabeth, Mrs. Eugene Hoffman of Sleepy Eye, Minn.; Marie, Mrs. John Roder of Granville; Kate, Mrs. Cyril Haag of Ledyard; Mathilda, Mrs. Zeno Budden of Sioux City; Irene, Mrs. Henry Schnee of Remsen and Eleanor, Mrs. Arthur Schemmel of Granville. There are 67 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Monday morning at 9 o’clock at St. Joseph’s church with Rev. John Gerleman officiating. Pallbearers were his six grandsons: Lee and Marcel Hoffman, Norman and Maurice Boever, William Roder and Clarence Budden.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate (informant Mrs. A. J. Schemmel) adds his father, Peter Boever, born in Luxembourg, mother’s name not known; in the U.S. 63 years and in the Sacred Heart Hospital 8 days; a retired farmer, last worked at this occupation in March 1919; died at 9:30 p.m. November 3, 1939; causes, cardiovascular renal disease, onset 1930, cardiac decompensation, onset 1939, and auricular fibrillation, onset 1939.

His FindaGrave.com page gives his birth place as Enscherange, Canton de Wiltz, Diekirch, Luxembourg; spouse Margaret Welter Boever (1864-1937); 11 children listed. There is a photo of his headstone.

The 1910 U.S. census shows him a farmer in East Orange Township, Sioux County, immigrated from Luxemburg in 1875, naturalized. In the 1920 census he is still living on the home farm but occupation given as “none’; naturalized in 1886.

The 1925 Iowa state census (legibility poor) for Granville appears to give his parents as Mike Boever and Maggie Zaris.