BioA: Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver (41st - 1976)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Williams, Paler, White, Zank, Vandeberg, Draves, Short, Feutz, Hansen

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 10/28/1976

Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver (41st - 1976)

Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Williams observed their 41st wedding anniversary over the weekend. Their children took them to a local supper club and dinner. Then Sunday, they were honored with an open house at their home on Rt. 2 Granton, with around 150 relatives and friends in attendance.

Wedding cake, bars, punch and coffee were served. A heart-shaped wedding cake was made by their daughter, Mrs. Marvin (Sharon) Draves and was decorated by Mrs. Bud Hansen, a neighbor.

Oliver Williams, son of the late Art and Teckla Williams, and Hazel Paler Williams, daughter of the late Mr./Mrs. William Paler, were married October 19, 1935, at the Neillsville Methodist parsonage, with the Rev. Paul B. White officiating. Rev./Mrs. White have been retired and residing at Merrimac for several years.

They were attended by his sister, Mildred Williams, and Albert Zank, now Mr./Mrs. Albert (Lefty) Zank.

Mr. Williams was born in Chicago and moved with his parents to the Town of Levis, when he was 1-1/2 years old. They lived in various places, then moved to the Town of Washburn when he was 10 years. He started school in Levis and also attended Cannonville School. He served several years as supervisor on Washburn town board and also was an officer with Washburn PTA when there were the country schools here. He also did carpenter work, hauled milk and farming. They both are members of United Methodist Church in Neillsville.

Mrs. Williams was born at Paschal, N.D. and moved to the Town of Washburn when she was six years old and also attended Cannonville School. She attended high school in West Bend and worked there. She also was employed in Chicago before her marriage and was employed as a nurse’s aide at the old nursing home in Neillsville in 1960. She is a member of the Cannonville Ladies Aid and Washburn Homemaker Club and has held offices on both organizations.

To this union, five children were born. They are Rodger of Williams Bay; Mrs. Nathan (Jean) Vandeberg of Wisconsin Rapids; Wendell of Marshfield; Mrs. Marvin (Sharon) Draves of Kewaskum; and Marvin of Eau Claire. All were present for the occasion. They also have 14 grandchildren.

Special guests attending the open house were his mother, Mrs. Teckla Williams, 90, and Mrs. Dessa Short, 91, from Memorial Home, and Mrs. Chris Feutz, 87, an old neighbor who resides on her farm.

Then also, from away were their children and families; and a long list of relatives, acquaintances from near and far that came for the occasion.

They had planned to celebrate their 40th anniversary but he was in Marshfield hospital having heart surgery at that time.