Iowa Old Press
Akron Register-Tribune
August 20, 1942
PROMINENT AKRON FARMER SUMMONED
Rites For Hans Willer, Successful Stock Raiser, Are Held Tuesday
Hans Willer, one of the best known farmers and stockmen in Plymouth County, passed away at his home in Westfield township, southeast of Akron, at about 4 o’clock Sunday morning, August 16, 1942, following another stroke, aged 78 years.
Born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, June 18, 1865, he came here with members of his family when a young man. A more complete obituary of this highly respected citizen will appear in these columns next week.
Mr. Willer had resided in this section for the past fifty years. He is survived by his wife, six sons and three daughters, all residing in this vicinity, who have the sympathy of a host of friends in their bereavement.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the family home, conducted by Rev. Ernest G. Svenson, pastor of Immanue Lutheran Church of this city. There was a large attendance at the services. Miss Lula Claassen and Kenneth Shoulberg sang “Rock of Ages” and “Abide With Me.” Interment was in Riverside Cemetery.
Several auto loads of relatives came from Benton county, Iowa, to attend the funeral.
LOCAL NEWS NOTES.
Lynn Arkin has visited relatives and friends in Omaha and Sioux City during the past week.
The Girls’ Christian Workers Club will meet in the home of Lois Jean Campbell on Monday evening, August 24, at 7:30 o’clock.
I wish to sincerely thank those who called to visit me while I was in the hospital in Sioux City, also the many friends who sent cards, letters, and flowers, bringing me much cheer.—Mrs. Anna Adams.
Rev. J. Olin Kennell, who was recently elected as new pastor of the First Baptist Church, is expected to arrive next Monday, with his wife and child, from Sumner, Nebr., to enter upon his duties here.
Tonsillectomies at the Akron Hospital during the week: Charles, son of Walter Young; Connie Rae, daughter of Clifford Jurgenson; Zenethe, daughter of Amos Hoeck; Lois and Joyce, daughters of O. H. Peters; Theora, daughter of Ted Schimberg; Mrs. Sam Eidem.
LeRoy K. Burket, Jr., of this city enlisted in the U. S. Navy one day last week at the Navy Recruiting Station in Sioux City and reports there for duty next Monday. John Moller, east of town, is also a recent naval recruit there, and George Von Hagel and Eugene Van Court went to the city today (Thursday) to apply for naval enlistment. Both are in the August draft.
Dr. Max Moore, of Faulkton, S. D., was a guest last week in the home of his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Manning, northwest of town. Dr. Moore’s wife, who passed away several months ago, was formerly Miss Elizabeth Quinn, and was a nurse in the Akron Hospital before World War I, and is remembered by many people here. She went overseas as a war nurse, serving in France.
People driving in from southeast of town this (Thursday) morning were surprised to see a young deer bound across the highway ahead of them near the Tucker school and clear a fence “with the greatest of ease.” In the past several months reports have been received of deer having been seen quite often in the south part of this county and in some parts of the state the animals have become a pest to farmers, orchardists and gardeners.
Supt. and Mrs. Chas. C. Fowler and Celia returned today, after having spent most of the summer in Des Moines, where Mr. Fowler completed his scholastic work for a Master of Arts degree at Drake University. He and his daughter made a brief visit with relatives in Nebraska enroute here. Supt. Fowler will now be busily engaged in making preliminary arrangements for the opening of the Akron public schools on Monday, August 31, and will make announcements regarding the opening program in this paper next week.
Akron Register-Tribune
August 27, 1942
RITES ARE HELD FOR A PROMINENT AKRON FARMER
Hans Willer Was One Of Leading Stockmen In This Territory
Hans Willer, one of the best known farmers and stockmen in Plymouth county, passed away at his home in Westfield township, southeast of Akron, at about 4 o’clock Sunday morning, August 16, 1942, following another stroke, aged 77 years, 1 month, 29 days.
Hans Willer was born in Schleswig-Holstein Germany, June 18, 1865. He came to the United States when a boy of 12 years, locating at Luzerne, Iowa. He worked for several years in Benton county, Iowa, two years at Remsen, and then returned to Keystone, Iowa, where he married Cecelia Heitman on March 11, 1892. They farmed near Keystone for eight years and then moved to a farm east of Akron, where they lived for three years. They then bought the farm where they have made their home since. With years of good planning and hard labor, Mr. and Mrs. Willer built this farm from a place with a few small buildings to be one of the largest stock farms in this community. Mr. Willer was widely known for his cattle raising and feeding, and he was always a market topper with his tock, both on the Sioux City and Chicago markets. He took great pride in his cattle feeding.
On March 11 of this year Mr. and Mrs. Willer were privileged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary with all their children and grandchildren being present, and many friends honoring them upon the occasion.
Mr. and Mrs. Willer always enjoyed a trip to his old home in Benton county, until last year, when his health would not permit the trip.
Surviving Mr. Willer are his devoted wife, Cecelia; six sons and three daughters—Henry, of Akron; Mrs. Lena Papritz, of Akron; John, of Brunsville; Ed, Mrs. Anna Hasenbank, George and Julius, all of Akron; Ted and Louise, at home. There are 12 grandchildren; also, one sister and three brothers, Mrs. E. C. Hecht, of Hardwick, Minn.; Charlie Willer of Akron; Henry Willer, of Long Beach, Calif; and Nick Willer of Pipestone, Minn. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jergen Willer; two brothers, Peter and Julius, and one sister, Lena, preceded him in death.
Honorable and upright in all his dealings, an industrious and progressive farmer, a kind and devoted husband and father, a helpful neighbor and loyal friend, Mr. Willer will be genuinely missed and mourned in the community where he has resided for so many of the years of his useful life.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 18, at 2 p.m., in the family home, conducted by Rev. Ernest G. Svenson, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Akron. Miss Lulu Claasen and Kenneth Shoulberg sang “Rock of Ages” and “Abide With Me.” There was a large attendance at the services. Interment was in Riverside Cemetery.
Relatives from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. Louie Heitman, Mrs. Mary Albertson, Mr. and Mrs. Louie Albertson, George and John Gulstorf, of Keystone, Iowa; Henry Gulstorf, Gus. Gulstorf, of Van Horne, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Ewald Albertson, of Elberon, Iowa; Mrs. Will Janss, of Troy Mills, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Lahn and family and John Lahn, of Belle Plaine, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Hecht, of Hardwick, Minn.; Mrs. Will Heins and Nick Willer, of Pipestone, Minn.; Mrs. Kate Heitmann, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Heitmann, Mrs. John Sanny and Mrs. Cecelia Haack, of Remsen, Iowa; John Schultz, of Moville, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Pete Kallsen, of LeMars, Iowa.
CARD OF THANKS.
We wish to most sincerely than the neighbors, friends and relatives for their kind assistance and sympathy during the illness and after the death of our beloved husband and father; also for the beautiful floral offerings and pantry supplies. Especially do we thank Dr. Mattison for his untiring efforts, Rev. Svenson for his comforting words, and Kenneth Soulberg and Lulu Claassen for their songs. – Mrs. Hans Willer and Children.
AKRON BOY TAKES PART IN GREAT RAID ON DIEPPE BASE
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dirks, of this city, received a cablegram the first of this week from their son, Lieut. Leonard Dirks, who is located in England and serving with the American Rangers, that he participated in last week’s large scale raid on the Nazi base at Dieppe, France, and had returned to England without mishap. Lieut. Dirks is a member of one of the first contingents of American troops to arrive in the British Isles in this war, and was assigned to the American Rangers (similar to the British Commandos) some time ago. Upon hearing that the Rangers participated in the Dieppe raid, his parents assumed that Leonard had taken part in the affair and their belief was verified upon receipt of his message.
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