Obit: Dunevant, Chester (1897 – 1977)
Transcriber: Stan 

Surnames: Buss, Duncan, Dunevant, Hill, Kangas, Lein, Munson, Noess, Rakow, Sorensen, Venet

----Source: Owen Enterprise (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 02 Feb 1977; Marshfield News-Herald, Marshfield, Wisconsin, 29 Jan 1977, Sat, Page 8, Census, Birth, Marriage & Cemetery Records, KJV Bible, Wikipedia

Dunevant, Chester (18 Aug 1897 – 29 Jan 1977)

Chester Dunevant, aged 79, of Burnsville, Minnesota passed away on Thursday, January 29, 1977 at 12:50 a.m. at the Burnsville Health Care Center.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, January 31, 1977 at the Kraut-Maurina Funeral Home in Owen, with the Rev. Roland Rakow officiating. Burial services followed at the Riverside Cemetery, Withee.

Pallbearers for the service were Sigurd Sorensen, Jalmer Kangas, William Kangas, Ben Hill, DuWayne Venet and Raymond Venet.

Mr. Dunevant was born August 18, 1897 in (Newark), Gratiot County, MI and married Lydia Venet in 1919 in MI. They lived in Withee until her death during a tornado on September 21, 1924. Three daughters were also killed in that tornado.

The deceased served with the U.S. Marine Corps until 1929, and then lived in Alaska, Oregon and Florida before moving to Burnsville in 1973.

He married Anne Noess on April 19, 1949 in Anchorage, Alaska,. She died December 11, 1976.

The deceased was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Burnsville, Minnesota.

Mr. Dunevant is survived by one sister, Mrs. Edna Lein of Clearwater, Florida, and two brothers-in-law, Elmer Venet of Withee and Orville Venet of Ely, Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by two wives, one brother and three daughters.

  Chester Dunevant Family Marker

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Bio: Dunevant, Chester (1897-1979)

Chester Dunevant b. 18 August 1897 in Newark, Gratiot, Michigan, United States and died 27 January 1977 in Clay, Minnesota, United States.  He was buried January 1977 in Withee, Clark, Wisconsin, in Riverside Cemetery with his first wife and their 3 daughters.

Father: Harry Dunevant (1869–1911); Mother: Ada C Dobson (1872–1970)
Marriage: 20 Jul 1892, St. Louis, Gratiot, Michigan, United States

Four Children of Ada C Dobson and Harry Dunevant
Vernon Donovan Dunnevant 1892–1918; Dee Dunevant 1894–1968; Chester Dunevant 1897–1977; Edna Grace Durevant 1903–Deceased.

2nd Husband of Ada Dobs Dunevant: James George Knowles (1836–1926)
Marriage: 29 July 1914 in Saint Louis, Gratiot, Michigan, United States

Ada C Dobson (1872–1970); Parents: Adney H Dobson (1847–1935) & Susan A Felton (1848–1927)
Marriage: 17 January 1872, Maple Rapids, Clinton, Michigan

1915

Name Sex Birth Date Birthplace Father's Name Father's Sex Father's Birthplace Mother's Name Mother's Sex Mother's Birthplace ?

Chester Dunevant Male 18 Aug 1897 Gratiot, MI, United States Harry Dunevant Male OH Ada Dunevant Female MI Birth

WWI Draft Record, Midland, MI

Chester Dunevant stood 71 inches tall (5ft 9in+) and weighed about 150 lbs. on 24 Aug 1918.

He was born in Newark Twp., Gratiot, MI and had just turned twenty-one years old that week.

His home was on Rural Route # 5, Shepherd, MI,  His father was born in Covington, OH.

His employer was T. Bush, RR 2, St. Louis, MI and his closest was Ada Knowles who also

lived on RR # 5, Shepherd, MI.

Chester had brown eyes and dark brown hair.

1920 Federal Census, Owen, WI; Dwelling 109, Family 123; sheet A7, 6th & 7th of January by Charles Buss

Head--Percy Clifton Male 39 1881 WI Married White Head WI England, Barber
Alice Clifton Female 42 1878 WI Married White Wife NY OH, Hotel Manager
Floyd Clifton Male 14 1906 WI Sgl. White Son WI WI
Aaron Clifton Male 12 1908 WI Sgl. White Son WI WI
Kenneth Clifton Male 10 1910 WI Sgl. White Son WI WI,
Lyda Vennet Female 17 1903 MI Sgl. White Servant Finland Finland, Servant
Gunner Kirchhof Male 21 1899 WI Sgl. White Boarder WI WI, Laborer at the box factory
Roy Gabriel Male 23 1897 WI Sgl. White Boarder Sweden WI, Laborer at the creamery
Oscar Branden Male 22 1898 WI Sgl. White Boarder Norway Norway, barber working out
Louis Ludowise Male 25 1895 WI Sgl. White Boarder Germany WI, Telegraph Operator
Thomas Larson Male 23 1897 WI Sgl. White Boarder Norway WI, Telegraph Operator 
Andrew Konik Male 22 1898 Pennsylvania Sgl. White Boarder Pennsylvania Austria, Laborer at the box factory
Swan Peterson Male 21 1899 Illinois Sgl. White Boarder Sweden Sweden, Laborer at the box factory
Chester Dunevant Male 22 1898 MI Sgl. White Boarder OH MI, Laborer in the lumber mill
Anna Amunsen Female 18 1902 1902 Norway Sgl. White Boarder Norway Norway Laborer at the box factory
Roy Peterson Male 23 1897 Illinois Sgl. White Boarder Sweden Sweden, Laborer in the lumber mill 
Clarence Kern Male 18 1902 WI Sgl. White Boarder Pennsylvania Germany, Laborer at the box factory
James Englebretson Male 23 1897 WI Married White Boarder Norway Norway,  Laborer at the box factory
John Cannon Male 57 1863 Pennsylvania Widowed White Boarder Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, edgerman in the lumber mill

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United States Census, 1920 Wisconsin Clark Hixon ED 21, Farm 21, Family #22, Sheet B1 & A2, Jan. 2 & 3 by Laurence H. Munson

Victor Issac Venet Male 50 1888 1870 Finland Married White Head Finland Finland, farmer
Helmi Venet Female 43 1888 1877 Finland Married White Wife Finland Finland
Impi Venet Female 18 1902 Michigan Single White Daughter Finland Finland, Servant in a private home
Elmer Venet Male 15 1905 Michigan Single White Son Finland Finland
Edward Venet Male 12 1908 Michigan Single White Son Finland Finland
Taimi Venet Female 10 1910 Michigan Single White Daughter Finland Finland
Tauno Venet Male 8 1912 Michigan Single White Son Finland Finland
Lempi Venet Female 6 1914 Michigan Single White Daughter Finland Finland
Arvo Venet Male 3 1917 Wisconsin Single White Son Finland Finland
Arne Venet Male 0 1920 Wisconsin Single White Son Finland Finland

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1940 Federal Census, Seward Recording District - No. 27, Third Judicial Division, Alaska Territory, USA, Sheet A-1 #1, Line 10

Name Chester Dunevant- White widowed American male
Enumeration District Number 3-2 Seward Recording District - No. 27 N of Seward Town including Chickaloon Bay, Cooper Landing, Diniole Station, Grandview Station, Hope Village, Hunter Station, Jesse Lee Home, Johnson Station, Kenoi Lake, Lakeview, Lawing Station, Moose Pass Station, Moraine Station, Point Possession, Portage Station, Primrose Landing, Primrose Station, Riddiford (Skilak Lake), Russian River, Skilak Lake, Spencer Station, Sunrise Village, Woodrow Station, and Farming Districts and Tiemakers in vicinity of Alaska Railroad from Seward to Portage Station; Jesse Lee Home, Hope Village
 

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1950 Federal Census, Ontario, Malheur, OR, USA, Dwelling Number: W63, 696 NW 1st St.

Name: Chester Dunevant, Male
Age: 52 (1897)
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Michigan
Marital Status: Married
Household
Chester Dunevant 52 Head, Household Products Dealer
Anna M Dunevant, 59 Wife

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BioM: Venet, Impe Lydia (19 May 1920)

Transcriber: Janet

Surnames: Dobson, Dunevant, Rasi, Venet

----Source: Ionia County, Michigan Marriage court records

Marriage, 19 May 1920, Belding, Mich.

Marriage 26 May 1920 in Belding, Ionia, Michigan

Groom: Chester Dunevant, Male, Age 22y, Birth Date 1898 in Gratiot Co., Michigan
Father's Name Harry E. Dunevant
Mother's Name Ada C. Dobson
Brides's Name Lydia Impe Vennett, Female, Age 18y, Birth Date 1902 in Wakefield, Michigan
Father's Name Victor Vennett
Mother's Name Helmi Rasi

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Obit: Dunevant, Impe "Lydia" Venet (19 Apr 1902-21 Sep 1924)

Surnames: Dobson, Dunevant, Rasi, Venet / Vennett, Wakefield

----Sources: Wikipedia

Obit: Dunevant, Impe "Lydia" Venet (1902-1924)

Impe "Lydia" was born was born Saturday, 19 Apr 1902 in Wakefield, Gogebic County, Michigan, when its population was over 1,000.  Her hometown carried the name of its founder, George Mix Wakefield (6 Feb 1839), a Henderson, NY native.  The Chippewa Indians said, "The trout make rings upon the water there", and some said, "There was a body of water hanging on high."  She was the first of Victor & Helmi Venet's ten children.  They were both natives of Finland and when Lydia was born, Theodore Roosevelt (Republican) was the US President.

September 21, 1924, a violent storm originated about four miles southeast of Thorp ripping into telephone and telegraph lines as it swept in a northeasterly direction toward Hixon Township and the Dunevant home where Lydia and her three small daughters, 3 1/2 yr. old Pearl, 2 yr. old Edith and the youngest, Doris, just 3 days into her 16th month of life.  This young mother's last thoughts would most certainly not have been about herself and what she might suffer.

Other recorded area deaths from the same cyclone were: Sophia Drykowski, 16; John Kobylarczak, 65; Margaret Schmitzfrantz, 3; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Morris and 9-year-old daughter; Rose Royenski, 15; Marcia Kolyzarezek, 62; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Mahyja and two children; Harry Barry; Mrs. Thorson; Walter Hill; child of Frank Weaver; Mrs. Donavan and two children; an unidentified foreign woman.  Members of the Norris family were killed when their farm home collapsed.  The Drykowski girl was killed on the farm of her parents located south of Thorp. Her brother, Joseph, had two arms broken and her mother was seriously injured. Her father escaped with minor injuries.  Frank Hadler, who also resided on a farm south of Thorp had two legs broken and his son, Thomas, had a wrist broken when he was picked up bodily by the wind and hurled against a water tank. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Margaret, were driving toward their home in Redville in their automobile when the storm picked up the machine and carried it through the air over eighty feet. The little girl was so seriously injured that she died a few hours later. The parents were seriously injured. The steel railroad bridge at Redville was reported lifted from its piers and thrown in a twisted mass on the banks. Soo Line tracks on both sides of the bridge were torn up.

When Chester Dunevant's 5 ft. nine inch frame stood over his cherished wife's lifeless body and he must have wondered what her last thoughts were as the crushing timbers fell from above.  Did Lydia's Evangelical Lutheran faith sustain her until she was freed from her nightmare?  Did she believe that somehow she and the girls would survive the storm?  Was she killed instantly or did she realize the babies who were depending on her would not live?  These questions must of weighed on Chester's mind until he himself passed on himself at the age of seventy-nine.  How many times did he try to remove the scene that was etched on his heart?  A few months later, he joined the U.S. Marines and served until 1929.  It was a lot for a 27 year old man to bear, but no one gets to choose the tragedies they must face as they play out their role in life.

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."

Isaiah 45:7 King James Version

"Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. "

Isaiah 45:10-11 King James Version

By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

Isaiah 45:23 King James Version

Central School, Wakefield, MI, built in 1902

She lived 22 years, 5 months, 6 days.

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Obit: Dunevant, Pearl May (1921-1924)

Pearl May Dunevant, the first born child of Impe "Lydia" (Venet) and Chester Dunevant began life in St. Louis, Gratiot County, MI, 10 Mar, 1921.  The day after her 3 p.m death, 21 Sept., 1924, Dr. Henry H. Christofferson of Colby recorded her cause of death, "Killed by being hit on the head during a wind storm."  No longer would she help her mother gather eggs in the morning or care for her two younger sisters.  There would be no more visits to grandpa and grandma Venet's farm which was just a short distance away.  She would not have a first day at school or struggle to learn how to write her own name.  Pearl had lived just 184 weeks and three days and experienced only four summers before her burial in a family plot in Riverside Cemetery, Hixon Twp., Clark Co., WI.

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Obit: Dunevant: Edith Arlene (1922-1924)

Edith Arlene Dunevant was born 24 Apr 1922, in St. Louis, Gratiot County, MI and lived 2 yrs., 4 mo., and 27 days before her death, 21 Sept., 1924, over 315 miles from her place of birth.  She would no longer wear her sister's hand-me-downs.  She would never again greet he father with a happy grin or watch as her mother nursed her baby sister.  We can only imagine what her father, Chester, thought as he held her damaged little frame for one last time.  Her burial took place in Riverside Cemetery, Hixon Twp., Clark Co., WI

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Obit: Dunevant, Doris (1923-1924)

Doris Irene Dunevant was born 19 May 1923, in St. Louis, Gratiot County, MI and was the second daughter of Lydia (Venet) and Chester Dunevant. The informant of her death at 8 p.m., 22 Sept., 1924 was M. H. Duncan of Owen, WI.  H. H. Christofferson supplied the medical report and he recorded the cause of death: "Hit on the back and right side of her head during a windstorm."  She was 1 yr., 4 mo. and 3 days old.  Her mother and two sisters had died the day before, immediately following one of the deadliest Tornados to hit Clark County, Wisconsin.  It is likely that her mother was holding her in an effort to protect her from the impending danger as little Doris was the only one found alive at the time of rescue.

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Obit: Dunevant, Anne M. Noess (1890 - 1976)

Anne M. Dunevant
Death Date 11 Dec 1976
Death Place Clay, Minnesota
Mother's Name Stein
Event Type Death
Typed or Handwritten T
Birth Date 23 Sep 1890
Mother's Maiden Name Stein
Born in Ellendale, Dickey, North Dakota, United States
Record Number 2661664
Certificate Number 030267
Certificate Year 1976

Father: August Heinrich Noess, (1855–1943) - Mother: Louisa Fredericka Augusta Stein (1860–1935)

Children (11): Clara Noess, 1885–1973; Bertha Noess, 1887–: Albert William Julius Noess, 1889–1978; Anna Noess, 1890–1976; William F. Noess, 1892–1978; John Henry Noess, 1894–1971; Louisa "Lulu" Noess, 1896–1972; Herman Ernest Noess, 1898–1957; Esther Emma Adelhedt Noess, 1901–1989; Helen Noess, 1903–1987; Theodore H. Noess, 1906–1965

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