Willey Baldus (1854-1940)

BALDUS, GROSS, MISKELL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 10/15/2024 at 12:53:07

From Story City Herald December 12, 1940 (page 16)

Willey Baldus
PIONEER OF LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP PASSED AWAY

Willey Baldus, a pioneer of this part of Story county, died at the Mary Greeley hospital in Ames Sunday morning, Dec. 1, at the ripe age of 86 years, 8 months and 24 days.

He had had remarkably good health all his long life, until recently his strength began to fail and he suffered a stroke following several months of illness.

Mr. Baldus was born at Joliet, Ill., Feb 24, 1854, and came with his parents to Story county in a covered wagon when he was two years old. They located in Lafayette township.

He united in marriage with Bertha Gross April 8, 1884. They immediately moved to the farm southwest of Story City, which became their hoe for about forty years, when they moved to Ames. He and his family were members of the Grace Evangelical church up to the time of moving to Ames when he and Mrs. Baldus joined the Methodist church of that place. In all the years he proved himself a loving husband and father and a conscientious Christian.

Surviving him, besides his wife, are two sons, Charles of Goldfield and Henry of Clarinda, and one daughter, Mrs. Emma Miskell of Story City, and also four grandchildren; Kenneth R. Baldus of Chicago, Marjorie Miskell of Iowa City, Kermit and Dorothy Miskell of Story City; besides one brother, George Baldus of Story City; besides one brother, George Baldus of Story City, and a number of other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral Services

Funeral services were held at the Adam Funeral Home in Ames, Tuesday, Dec. 3, with Rev. Alfred Barker, pastor of the M. E. church, officiating. The pall bearers were John Wakefield, Chas. Sawtell, C. H. Pasley, James Smith, C. L. Waltmeier and Mathias Johnson.

These from a distance in attendance were Dr. and Mrs. C. C. Baldus of Goldfield, Mrs. Emma Miskell, Kermit and Dorothy of Story City, Kenneth Baldus of Chicago, Marjorie Miskell of Iowa City, George Baldus, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Fandsen, Mr. and Mrs. John Springman, Mrs. Amelia Wirth, Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Johnson, Mrs. Chas. Tressler, Mrs. Martin Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Wilber Sowers, John Baldus and Earl Baldus, all of Story City; Mrs. Alice Gross, Dave Fitz, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cameron, all of Boone; Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Alfseike of Jewell, Mr. and Mrs. John McCoy and Cecelia, Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Blewett and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Lester of Goldfield; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Baldus and daughter of Oakland, Minn, besides many relatives and friends in and near Ames.