Obit: Verhulst, John (1873 - 1930)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: VERHULST, DE SWARTZE, MACARTHUR, LIETZOW

----Sources: WEEKLY CLARION (Dorchester, Clark Co., WI) 06/13/1930

Verhulst, John (17 FEB 1873 - 7 JUN 1930)

John Verhulst, an old resident of Dorchester (Clark Co., Wis.), passed away Saturday morning, June 7th, 1930, at 3 o’clock at the age of 57 years, of cancer.

The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the home, just a short service by the pastor, Rev. P. F. Walter, followed by one of the Royal Neighbors, then the remains were taken to the Evangelical Church, of which Mr. Verhulst was a very faithful member, where a fitting service was held, after which he was laid at rest in the cemetery south of town (Memorial South), Chas. Brady, Reinhold Klocke, Art Klocke, Otto Wilke, Wm. Bernsee and Mr. Raymond acting as pallbearers and Beulah Brady, Mary Smiley, June Hugoboom, Geraldine Herman, Zelia Whitman, Ruth Ockerlander, Mildred and Lila Walter acted as flower girls.

John Verhulst was born in Holland, Feb. 17, 1873. When he was 11 years old, he came to the United States with his folks and settled on a farm near Greenbush, Wis. Here he grew to manhood, but when he was 21 his father had plenty of help, he decided to choose a vocation for himself and as his brother, Jake, was cheesemaker at Readfield, he went to be with him and learn the trade. In 1897 he came to Dorchester and bought the Bruckerville Cheese Factory, which he operated for five years. In 1902 he was united in marriage to Hannah Lietzow. Two children were born to them, Vilas and Helen, who with their mother, survive him.

After he sold the factory they moved into town and purchased the livery and dray line, which he operated about 7 years. In 1910 he and his family moved to Fulton, Kansas, but they only stayed one year, then they came back here and have resided in the village or nearby ever since, operating cheese factories.

He became cheesemaker at Cloverhill Cheese Factory seven years before the day of his death and he received a number of very fine prizes and much favorable comment on his cheese, for whatever John undertook he always did well.

That is the best that can be said of any man - that he wasn’t a shirker and that’s one reason John has so many friends everywhere he went, for he was always willing to do what he could and the Little White Church, of which he was a faithful member, will miss him sadly. Always peppy and wide awak to the interests of all, whether the church, community or anyone he was serving, and doubly devoted to his family, a man well worth knowing and though we wonder why such should die so near the prime of life we must admit he had already lived a life full to the brim, blessing all about.

Besides his wife, son and daughter, he leaves 3 brothers, Isaac and Cornelius of Sheboygan, and Leonard of Holland, 2 sisters, Mrs. Lena De Swartze of Sheboygan Falls, Mrs. Mary MacArthur of Plymouth, one step-brother in Holland and two step-sisters, one in Sheboygan and one in Baldwin.

The Clarion joins the large host of friends in extending to this sadly bereaved family their sincerest sympathy.

The out of town people present for the funeral were Mrs. Lena Damann and daughter Ethel, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Verhulst and grandson Milton, Mr. and Mrs. John De Swartze, Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Verhulst, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Schroeder, all of Sheboygan, Mrs. Len De Swartze of Sheboygan….. (the rest of my copy got cut off)