Van Wey, Mabel C. (Barker) -- 1872 - 1957

BARKER, VAN WEY, GILBERT, CANNON

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 5/27/2004 at 19:41:17

Rites Held For Mrs. Van Wey

Funeral Services were held on Thursday afternoon, March 14, at the Frankville Community Church for Mrs. Mabel Van Wey. The Rev. Alden Showalter officiated. Burial was made in the Frankville cemetery.

Mabel Barker Van Wey was born March 4, 1872, in Frankville township, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Barker, who came here as pioneer settlers in 1855. She lived her entire life here except for three years spent in Waukon as a child.

She attended the schools of this community and taught school at Moneek, was a member of the Methodist Church in her youth. When the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches were consolidated in 1920, Mrs. Van Wey took part in all the activities, serving as a Trustee in the new Community Church for many years.

She was a Charter member of both the W. C. T. U. and the Willing Workers Society, attending the meetings regularly as long as her health permitted. She was also co-organizer and one of the first officers of the old "Village Improvement Society," which built the sidewalks and made other improvements in Frankville.

Her marriage to John Van Wey took place March 31, 1892. Two sons were born -- Claude, who passed away in 1932 and Frank, who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Wey operated a store here for many years, in which location the "Van Wey Park" project has been in progress the past year in their honor.

Four grandchildren mourn the passing of Mrs. Van Wey -- Lester Van Wey, Mrs. Lila Gilbert, Mrs. Dean Cannon (Catherine) and John Van Wey. Sixteen grandchildren also survive, and a brother, Maurice Barker, lives in Beverly Hills, California.

Mrs. Van Wey spent the past four years of her life in a Waukon nursing home, where she passed away Monday evening, March 11, at the age of 85 years and seven days. Mr. Van Wey passed away in 1943.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping, hand dated 1957, from my mother's obituary collection.