The 1970s

Paris Progress, 4-27-1970

Matt Willems, age 58, the eldest surviving son of John M. Willems suffered from colon cancer, eventually succumbing to it on April 21, 1970.  Matt left behind his wife Tince of 34 years, and their five children: Patricia, Charlotte, Betty Louise, Alice Jo, David, and host of grandchildren.  Matt was laid to rest at St. Joseph Cemetery.  

Willems siblings Frank, Catherine, Justin, Elizabeth, and John at a Willems reunion in Paris, 1970

1974 Willems cousins in front of Justin and Geneva's home 

 Zola Mae met a Jewish man named Joseph Greenberg.  They married May 7,1971 in the city of Los Angeles, California. Unlike in the past she did not adopt his this husband's religion.  

Linus and Barbara Grathwohl

Linus remarried July 20, 1972.  His new wife was Barbara Berkner.  She, like Linus, had also been widowed.  His children all returned to New Ulm, Minnesota.

Willems brothers Fred and Ollie,
with Fred's son Gary, 1973 

On June 4, 1970, Frank Willems, 50, filed as a Democratic candidate for the Arkansas House, in Position 2,  District 13 including Logan, Yell, and Franklin counties. He campaigned, and was elected to his first term in November of 1972.   Frank Willems began serving his first term in 1973.  He was a hardworking politician, genuinely caring for the welfare of his constituents.  

Circa 1974, Anna Marie and Henry Kloke at their business 
in Campbellsport, Wisconsin-Kloke Readymix.
Anna Marie learned the business and mixed concrete.  One evening
while serving dessert to guests she was asked if she baked the cake.
She laughed saying "No, I have a deal with Sara Lee.  If she won't 
mix concrete, I won't bake cakes!"

In August of 1973 John M. Willems sister, Mary Glabus, died in Regina, Canada.  She was 83 years old and the widowed mother of five. Mary considered herself a psychic and frequently wrote her older brother John warning him with her dire predictions.

1974, Sister Mary Alice, Aloys, and Anne Willems
at the Fish and Fiddle Resort near Mountain Home, AR

Zola Mae's marriage to Joseph Greenberg was far from a happy one.  Every time she turned around he told her she was costing him money.  California divorce records shows they were divorced in Los Angeles in April of 1974. The eighty year old Zola Mae went back to Anderson, Missouri where she lived out the remainder of her life.  

Stanley Manus (right) with his wife Imogene,son, Stan Jr., and stepbrother John Willems about 1970

News came from Bella Vista, Arkansas, of the death of Stanley Manus son of Zola Mae and her first husband Adron Manus.  The retired Baptist minister died on January 10, 1976 and was buried in Dug Hill Cemetery.  He was 59.

1976 Herman and Elizabeth their celebrate 50th anniversary-L-R, Justin, Anna Marie, Fred, John, 
Herman and Elizabeth, Catherine, and Frank

May 1978, Willems siblings Anna Marie, 
Aloys, Elizabeth,Justin, John, Catherine, and Frank

May 1978 
Willems siblings and spouses:Front-Geneva, Dolores, and Anne Willems, Anna Marie Kloke, and Irene Willems
Center-Hermen & Elizabeth Werner, Catherine Schwartz, and Regina Willems; 
Back-Aloys, Justin, John, and Frank Willems

1978 Back-Paul and Anne Willems,
Anna Marie Kloke, Frank, and Irene Willems

November 19, 1978-Tince Willems shares a laugh with bride Susan Willems Butler, 
daughter of John and Dolores Willems.

1979 Aloys Willems and his 
big sister Catherine Willems Schwartz

December 19, 1979 
Henry and Anna Marie Kloke

The 1960s

1960 Willems sisters Anna Marie and Margaret 
with their children Jimmy Bub and Linda Grathwohl

Hank Bub worked as a truck driver and chauffeur when he, Anna Marie and their sons lived in Albany, NY.  Then, with a huge labor force being hired to build the St. Lawrence Seaway, Hank found a job in its construction. The family went with him from one boom town after another, always living in trailer houses since there was a housing shortage. They lived in towns called Messina, and Elbridge, NY until the job was finished.  Christmas vacation of 1959 the Bubs visited family in Milwaukee.  During the stay Hank was offered a job as a construction supervisor.  The family returned at the end of March 1960 for Hank to start his new job only to find that there was a labor strike lasting several months postponing Hank's first day of work.

John Albert Schwartz drowned while fishing on June 24, 1960.  He and Catherine Willems Schwartz had been married 36 years.   In addition to Catherine, John was survived by their children Bill, Jim, Charles, Stella Mae, and Barbara.  Barbara would suffer yet another tragic loss November 14  of that same year when her husband Girard "Jerry" Falleur died in a hunting accident leaving her with a young son.
Both John and his young son-in-law Jerry were laid to rest at Saint Joseph Cemetery outside Paris.  



Matt, Tince and their family continued to farm near Paris.  Matt was one of those men who took to farming naturally as if he was a man born of the earth, seeming always to know the best time to plant, cultivate, and harvest.  In addition to farming mostly cotton and a variety of grains, they had a dairy. Matt, always one to keep busy, also cut and sold wood, and made charcoal. 

Matt and Tince celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary November 26, 1960

Frank and Regina, Circa 1960

Circa 1960- Happy New Year! Revelers Mike Bub, Dolores 
and Zola Mae Willems, Anna Marie Bub, Ruth and Phyllis Willems

In 1960 John S. Willems began designing and building homes in the Milwaukee suburbs in addition to being a realtor and broker.  He hired talented professionals and learned the job quickly, soon incorporating his new business into John Willems, Inc.  Two years later he had built several model homes, moving his family into one of them  after taking orders to build similar homes, in Elm Grove. Business was good.












Zola Mae married the widower Frank Xaver Classen about 1960.  He was a native of Charleston, Arkansas, and a retired farmer.  After the wedding Zola Mae and Frank Classen lived at his home in Charleston. Though she was raised a Baptist, and converted to Catholicism when married to John M. Willems even serving as president of the Catholic Women's Union, she adjusted her religion to match that of her new spouse.

At the age of 60, Herman Werner had been working at the smelter in Fort Smith since he left the farm.  Suddenly he found himself without work when the smelter closed.  At the urging of his in-laws in Milwaukee, Herman traveled there and got hired at Falk Corporation.  He and Elizabeth moved to Milwaukee during the summer of 1962.  Not intending to make Milwaukee their home, they rented an apartment, and four or five years later following Herman's retirement, they moved back to Fort Smith.

1960-1961 Catherine Willems Schwartz holding nephew,
 Gerald Grathwohl, Linda Grathwohl sits on right

1962 Party girl, Anna Marie Bub

Suddenly there was quite a community of Willems families in Milwaukee with Irene and family, Ollie and Anne and family, Elizabeth and Herman, Anna Marie and Hank and family, and John and Dolores and family all living in the area.  It was great to have family to visit with on weekends and special occasions.

Mike and Anna Marie Bub, Sister Mary Alice (Hedy Willems) and Irene Willems, circa 1961.
Ollie and Anne's eldest child Hedwig decided to dedicate her life to God and entered the convent 

following her  high school graduation.

While Ollie's nieces and nephews in Arkansas remember him for his jovial nature and always having Juicy Fruit chewing gum to share with them, his nieces and nephews in Milwaukee remember him as Santa Claus--at least during the holiday season.  I, yes, the little cutie on the right, learned who Santa was at the age of six or seven.  'Santa' asked if I'd been a good little girl.  Of course I recognized his voice and told my Mom who cautioned me to not spoil it for my younger brothers.  As much as it killed me, I kept mum.

Christmas Eve 1961-Santa (Aloys Willems) 
visits John and Dolores Willems 
home to see Steve, Susan, baby Dan, and Kathy

1960 Ollie Willems 'Santa' with
nephew Jimmy Bub

December 1962,  Dolores with baby Paul, 
John holding Daniel, Steve, Kathy, and Susan
in front

1963 Herman Werner, Anna Marie Bub, 
Elizabeth Werner, and Hank Bub

August 1962 at Subiaco- 

Fred Willems finds a bottle in his trunk

1962 Hank and Anna Marie Bub

A massive heart attack while working in a trench on a construction site took Hank Bub's life on Aug 5, 1964.  His son, Chuck, had a summer job and was working nearby.  Just 43 years of age, Hank, was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Anna Marie, who was in the hospital for a hysterectomy at the time of this tragedy, was grief stricken and unable to attend the funeral of her husband of 20 years. In addition to Anna Marie, their sons Chuck, Michael and Jimmy were left to grieve their loss.  

1966, Abe, Julia, Theresa. Martin-standing in back
Geneva, Harry, Linda, and Justin Willems- seated in front

On April 16, 1966 Anna Marie Willems Bub married Henry "Bud" Kloke in Milwaukee.  They'd met at a Catholic dance for widows and widowers over 35. The couple moved to Campbellsport and operated Kloke Readymix.

April 16, 1966- Jimmy Bub smiles broadly 
with his mom AnnaMarie and new stepdad Henry "Bud" Kloke

1966 Frank Willems 

Six of John M. and Anna Marie Willems grandchildren were born after Papa's death.  The last of these was in 1966 when Linus and Margaret's son Norman was born.

1967 Anne and Aloys Willems with their children Bill,
Mary, and Hedy (Sister Mary Alice)

Frank Classen, Zola Mae's husband died on August 6, 1968, leaving the seventy four year old a widow for the third time.  Zola Mae eventually wound up leaving Charleston to live in Anderson, Missouri, a small town near the Arkansas and Oklahoma state lines.  

1969 Irene Willems

March 26, 1968 Aloys Willems. Bob and Elizabeth Werner

By 1968 John S. Willems was feeling the stress of his building business.  He needed to get away so went on a fishing vacation on Lake Norfork outside Mountain Home, Arkansas with a buddy.  They stayed at the Fish & Fiddle Resort.  After lodging the family there in a trip combined with a Paris visit he and Dolores decided to buy the resort.  So on June 10, 1969, once the schools  were out for summer, John, Dolores and their five children left Wisconsin for Mountain Home, AR. 

Sadly, on Oct 9, 1969 Margaret Grathwohl, the youngest daughter of John Martin and Anna Marie Willems, died.  She left  a grieving husband of thirteen years, Linus, and their four children: Linda, whose 12th birthday was the day before her mother's funeral, Jerry, 9, David, age 4, and Norman, 3. Margaret's brother Ollie and his wife Anne took in the two youngest boys for a time, raising them in their home in Milwaukee, since Linus couldn't both work his hog farm and keep up with four young children.

November 1969 Frank and Regina celebrate 25 years of marriage

Send suggestions, questions, and corrections to mhlady31@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!

The 1950s

Misspelled tribute to John M. Willems 
work on the county building commission 
on the Logan County Courthouse in Paris

Circa 1950, Cousins Herman Eugene 
Werner and Phyllis Willems

In 1950, while on a vacation visiting family in Milwaukee, forty one year old Phillip was offered a job at Falk Corporation where his younger brother Ollie worked.  He took the job as a foundry mason, making ovens to heat the large gears for ships engines.  Phillip was a tough man and didn't even complain when he lost part of a finger one day at work.  The work was hard, but certainly no harder than Phillip's life of mining by night and farming by day in Arkansas.  Irene and the children adapted to the big city, began the school year in new schools and were happy to have at least some family living nearby their home at 619 N. 31st Street. At the time of the move Phyllis, the eldest child was fourteen and remembers beginning her sophomore year in Milwaukee.  Phillip and Mary Frances also began making new friends in their new school.  Ruth Ann, the youngest was three and stayed home with her mama.  Phillip was somewhat like his Papa in that he was always interested in learning.  He could get much enjoyment reading encyclopedias, and in later years loved to watch game shows and play educational games with his children.  

1950s John Martin and Zola Mae Willems with (back row L-R) 
Aloys, John, Frank, Phillip, and Justin,(front row L-R) Matt, Elizabeth, and Catherine.
 (Absent from this gathering were Margaret, Anna Marie, and Fred.)

Sister Edith, December 20, 1950

John M. Willems farm had prospered as had the country following WWII.  Rationing ended allowing citizens to buy what they could afford, no longer requiring a coupon.  Patched and worn tires were finally replaced and loved ones returned home.  

Circa 1950-Anne, Hedy, Ollie, (front) Bill, and Mary Margaret

Frank Willems, circa 1950

Zola Mae Willems, 1951

About 1950, Ollie Willems, John and Herman Werner at the well on the Willems homeplace

Nina Ophelia Manus Hunter, early 1950s

1950 Aloys holding Mary, John, and Zola Mae

Circa 1952, Irene and Phillip Willems

Phillip and Irene with Phillip's brother John

1952 Zola Mae visits her sons in California -- Leon, Stanley and Thurman lived in the Richmond, CA area

Papa in his favorite chair--John Martin Willems, circa 1952

Joseph Willems death certificate
-click to enlarge

North Korean forces—supported by the Soviet Union and China—invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950.  Two days later, then president Harry S. Truman committed U.S. forces to aid in South Korea's defense.  As a result John S. Willems, a shoe salesman living in Milwaukee with Aloys and Anne, was called up in the draft.  The twenty two year old was inducted into the US Army October 23, 1950.  He served in Korea in the motor pool keeping the jeeps and trucks running.  Johnny went home to Arkansas when he had some leave, before shipping out and happened to be in Paris when Papa learned of the death of his brother Joseph in Kansas City, Missouri on February 13, 1951.  Papa made the funeral arrangements, and Joseph was laid to rest four days later in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City.  Johnny rode with Papa, Matt, and Phillip as far as Kansas City, then hitchhiked the remainder of the way to Seattle where he boarded a ship bound for Korea.  
After 11 months and 22 days John was honorably discharged as a corporal, though the fighting went on until July 27, 1953, when an armistice agreement was signed. 

Circa 1951, John S. Willems (left) with a buddy in Korea

John S. Willems
separation papers

John S. Willems

March 1953, Dolores Pupp and John Willems with Lassie and Brandy

Margaret Willems with her little brother John, circa 1953

After his stint in Korea, John resumed his life in Milwaukee, and renewed his friendship with a cashier at L. Wiemann's 5 & 10 near the shoe store where he worked prior to the war.  Her name was Dolores Pupp.  He took a shine to her and she to him.  John proposed marriage on Valentine's Day of 1953.  The following month the pair were off to Arkansas so John could introduce Dolores to his Papa and stepmother.  Born in Wisconsin, she was a Yankee, but Papa didn't worry about that since the bride to be was a good practicing Catholic.  Along the way they dropped in to see John's sister, Margaret, who lived in Louisville, Kentucky.  (Margaret had left the convent after about 16 years and worked for a priest.)

Zola Mae, John S., and John M. Willems,March 1953

Dolores Pupp and future mother-in-law,
Zola Mae Willems, March 1953

April 25, 1953- John and Dolores Willems with Dolores' sister Ruth Pupp
as maid of honor, and John Werner, best man.

 John M. Willems rode up to Milwaukee with Herman, Elizabeth, John and Bob Werner,  with the two grandsons taking turns driving.  The day of John and Dolores' wedding arrived, April 25, 1953.  Family and friends gathered at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Milwaukee for the wedding.  A reception followed, so the couple spent their wedding night at the nearby Dreamland Motel before heading to their honeymoon in Illinois at Starved Rock State Park.

John Werner, Ruth Pupp, John S., Dolores, and John M. Willems

1953 Adults L-R Phillip, Anne, Irene, and Regina Willems  

Circa 1952, Phillip and Phyllis (back)
Frannie, Ruth, Irene, and Phillip Willems

1953 Hedy and Mary Willems in a wagon made
by their father Ollie and Papa Willems

John M. Willems, circa 1954

John Martin Willems and granddaughter Mary Willems, Ca.1954

1953 Matt and Tince's children- David, Charlotte, Betty, Alice Jo, and Patsy

March 1953 Bill, Mary, and Hedy play on the well of the John M. Willems farm.

1954 Zola Mae with Susan Willems,
firstborn of John and Dolores Willems

John M. Willems and grandson Bill Willems

Papa used to drape his coat over a heater or stove.  The house was so large with the fourteen rooms, that it had many stoves and heaters.   Anna Marie received a gift of a chinchilla coat from Papa one year.  Anna Marie made the mistake just once of doing the same with her fur.  It started quite a blaze but was extinguished before it did more than minor damage.   

Circa 1954, Margaret Willems

1954 Anna Marie with
6 month old Jimmy Bub

1954 L-R Dolores Willems, her mother Agnes Pupp, Irene Willems, Anne Willems, and Geneva Willems
and a friend, Audrey Zubalik. 

1954, Matt and Tince Willems in the cotton field with their son, David

Down in Louisville, Margaret Willems met a young man who was in the US Army stationed at nearby Fort Knox.  Linus John Grathwohl, a native of Minnesota, was the son of a farmer.  He enlisted in the army on December 16, 1953, spent some time as an MP in Germany and was released from service on September 30, 1955.  

Then on November 26, 1955, Margaret, age 29, married twenty eight year old Linus Grathwohl.  They were married by the priest she worked for, and were wed in Louisville at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church.  Margaret's Papa, though at the time was not happy she left the convent, proudly walked her down the aisle. See the newspaper clipping for other wedding attendees.

Mr. & Mrs. Linus Grathwohl

click on article to enlarge

By the end of 1955, all eleven of John Martin Willems surviving twelve children were married.  The seventy four year old was a grandfather many, many times over.  Catherine's son Bill, who was born in 1924 was the first of the grandchildren, the last would be born in 1966.  The local grandchildren he saw at the very least on Sunday when they and their parents would come for Sunday dinner, after Sunday Mass, a family day of play and visiting.  The grandchildren, who most usually called him "Papa" despite his being their Grandpa, enjoyed sliding down the banister, playing near the well and cistern.  There were outbuildings to explore and interesting things to do.  Papa's children and grandchildren who lived out of state came for visits almost every year, often staying a week or more.



One day Anna Marie was visiting with her sons Chuck, Mike, and Jimmy. At the same time Anne and Ollie were visiting with Hedy, Bill, and Mary.  Bill and Chuck who were born about 15 months apart palled around quite a bit.  While exploring their grandfather's farm the pair discovered a dog shut up in one of the outbuildings whining to get out.  They immediately released her not knowing she was in heat and keeping her locked up was an attempt at doggy birth control. When their grandpa discovered she was out he asked the two why they'd released her.  They calmly replied "Because she wanted out", and didn't get in any trouble whatsoever.

May 1956, Phillip and Irene with godson, Stephen Willems

Circa 1956, Frannie, Ruth, Irene,(front)
and Phyllis, Phil, and Phillip Willems, (rear)

A family reunion was held at the Willems homeplace in August of 1957.  It was a grand time of fun with siblings reuniting and cousins who lived in different states getting to know each other better.

Justin and Geneva with (back) Abe, Julia, and Martin,
and Theresa and Linda (front)

Frank and Regina Willems (back) with their children:
 Mary, Ramona, Dennis, and Dolores, (middle);
Joan, Rose, and John (front)

Louise (back), Alice Jo, and David with their parents Tince and Matt Willems 

Dolores and John Willems with daughter Susan, and son Steve

Barbara and her mother Catherine Willems Schwartz, Aug 1957

August 1957, Fred and Ceil Willems with sons
Edwin, Gregory, Gary, and Larry

August 1957, John Martin and Zola Mae Willems and family L-R:
Anna Marie, Justin, Catherine, John, Matt, Aloys, Frank, Fred, and Elizabeth

Clockwise from front-Justin, Frank, John, Matt, Papa John M. Willems in his favorite chair, Aloys, and Fred

The Willems family reunion attendees, August 1957

John Stephen Willems at the homeplace, Circa 1957

Circa 1957, Zola Mae, granddaughter Susan,
and John M. Willems

1950s Zola Mae and Lassie

Papa feeds granddaughter Linda Grathwohl, circa 1957

Margaret, Linus and baby Linda Grathwohl
visit John M. and Zola M. Willems in Paris

Phillip and Irene, circa 1957

1957, Dolores, John S., Zola M., and John M. Willems
and Dolores' parents Albert and Agnes Pupp
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1958, Siblings Frank and Anna Marie

Circa 1958, Regina and Geneva Willems

1958, L-R,  Fred Lester, Greg, Fred, Cecilia, Edwin,
Larry, and Gary Willems

1958-Linus, Linda, Margaret Grathwohl,
Aloys, Hedy, Mary, and Bill Willems

Frank Willems with Joan, Dennis, and John 

1958 Hank and Anna Marie Bub

1958 Margaret, Linda, and Linus Grathwohl

Zola Mae and John Martin Willems, circa 1958

Phillip and Abbot Michael Lensing at Subiaco

Phillip Willems became ill and today would have been put on dialysis.  Sadly, his life was cut short on February 6, 1959 by kidney failure. When Abbot Michael Lensing heard about his good friend's death, and how he'd seen Jesus the day before his passing, he left Subiaco and headed north, driving the 800 miles to pay his respects at his good friend's funeral despite the cold and snowy weather.   
Left to mourn his passing were his widow Irene, and children Phyllis, Phil, Frannie, and Ruth. Phillip and Irene were two months shy of their 24th wedding anniversary.  Phillip was missed as a loving husband and father.  He was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Phillip's obituary in the Falk Corporation newsletter

John Martin Willems health had been failing.  It wasn't a shock to any of the family when finally he was bedridden most of the time.  Zola Mae, who was an LPN, took care of her husband and saw to it the doctor called on him as needed.  Finally it came that he needed around the clock care.  Death was imminent.  Family and friends stepped up to help.  One of these was Charlotte Willems, Papa's granddaughter by son Matt.  Charlotte had graduated nurses training and was living in Fort Smith when she and her roommate would drive over on weekends to give Zola Mae a break.  Finally at peace, John M. Willems died May 18, 1959.  His death record states the cause of death as cerebral hemorrhage due to hypertension and arteriosclerosis with diabetes mellitus as a contributing factor.  Papa's death was mostly viewed as a blessing, with family concerned about Zola Mae, then age 65, who was exhausted from the ordeal. It was decided the funeral should be three days later, on May 21st to allow the out of town family members time to travel to Paris.

John and Anna's marker at St. Joseph's Cemetery

 

Prominent Layman Dies 
In Paris, Ark.

 Paris, Ark.—Seventy-seven-year old John M. Willems, one of western Arkansas’ most prominent Catholic laymen, died here last Monday.

He was a successful farmer, an influential political and civic leader, and had remained active in church affairs until his death.

Mr. Willems’ funeral was conducted yesterday morning at St. Joseph’s Church here.  The pastor, The Reverend Cletus Post, O.S.B., offered a Solemn Requiem Mass, with The Rev. Father Hilary, O.S.B., and The Rev. Father Stephen, O.S.B. as Deacon and Subdeacon respectively.  The Right Reverend Michael Lensing, O.S.B., Abbot of New Subiaco Abbey, preached the sermon.

Mr. Willems was president of the Catholic Union of Arkansas for many years and he served in the Arkansas State legislature in 1911, 1913,and 1933.  He retired last year as president of the McLean’s Bottom Levee Board after 44 years service.  In this capacity he had been instrumental in negotiating construction of levees along the Arkansas River to protect farmland six miles north of Paris from recurring floods.

Mr. Willems was born in Luxembourg, Germany. July 15,1881.  He was brought to the United States at the age of two and his family settled in Cuba, Kansas.  During his boyhood the family moved to Charleston, Arkansas.  At the age of 21 he married Miss Anna Guenther, and he spent the next 57 years as a resident of Paris.

After the death of his first wife, Mr. Willems married Zola Stanley Manus in 1934.  They celebrated their Silver Anniversary last February.

Survivors, besides his wife, include, four daughters, Mrs. John Schwartz of Paris, Mrs. Herman Werner of Fort Smith, Mrs. Henry Bub of Massena, NY, and Mrs Linus Grathwahl of New Ulm, Minn., six sons, Matt Willems of Paris, Justin and Frank Willems of Subiaco, Aloys and John Willems of Milwaukee, and Fred Willems of El Paso, Texas; 48 grandchildren, including Mrs. Carl Pinter of Conway, wife of the manager of The Guardian Press Store, and 30 great grandchildren.  In addition he is survived by four stepsons, Evan Manus of Tulsa, Okla., Stanley Manus of Merced, Calif., Thurman Manus of Azusa, Calif., and Leon H. Manus of La Puente, Calif.; one stepdaughter, Mrs. Albert C. Hunter of El Paso, and 18 step-grandchildren.

May 1959 The Willems and Manus siblings with mother/ stepmother Zola Mae Willems

Zola Mae with children from her marriage to Adron Manus
-Evan, Stanley, Ophelia, "Tommy" Thurman, and Leon Haskell

Who is Jim Trimble?

John M. Willems will, page 1--
click to enlarge

Papa knew he wouldn't live forever, so in an effort that reflects a great deal of thought,  he drew up a will dated February 28, 1950.  His knowledge of the law obviously was a great help in drawing up the document. Margaret was a Benedictine nun when he drew up the will so instead of leaving her land he willed her $1000. The approximately 213 acre "river bottom farm" was divided among ten of his children, into plots of 20 to 23.5 acres each.  

John M. Willems will, page 2

  Matt, as the executor, set about getting his Papa's last wishes fulfilled by selling those belongings that weren't mentioned in the will.  

John M. Willems will, page 3

The beautiful stained glass windows of St. Benedict's were
imported from Munich.

John M. Willems willed $500 toward "the building of a new church at Subiaco". When he wrote the will the building was still in the planning stage, with groundbreaking taking place on October 19, 1952.  The church was completed in early 1959.  Many of the books from John Martin Willems library were donated to Subiaco Abbey and can still be found there today.  


Zola Mae wasted little time in deciding the large fourteen room farmhouse, outbuildings and surrounding lands of 120 acres,  were more than she needed to take care of, and put the homeplace up for sale.  She moved to a house on 315 W. Main Street in Paris by the end of 1959. Horace Cotton was the new owner of the "homeplace" which had been in the family since Anton Mesel purchased it March 24, 1881--over 78 years earlier. Mr. Cotton put money down on the land and mortgaged the rest, paying it off quickly.  The rankling part of this-- he sold timber from the property that Papa wouldn't allow his sons to cut in order to pay off the loan!
  
A family portrait made about 1910 of John M., Anna and their first three children (see the section title "Arkansas 1904-1910")  was left behind in a corner of the attic.  It was decades after Horace Cotton purchased the house that it finally got back to the Willems family.   Anna Marie and descendants visited the Cotton's to tour the old homeplace and a comment was made that a picture on the wall looked like some of the Willems family.  Mrs. Cotton said it was, and promptly got up and returned it to the family.  Anna Marie said later that she and her group left quickly thinking Mrs. Cotton may change her mind and ask for it back!

1959- Santa Claus (Aloys Willems) visits John and Dolores Willems
 home  in Milwaukee, with crying Kathy held by Elf (Mary Willems),
Steve in Zola Mae's lap, and Susan Willems

1959 Elizabeth and Herman Werner and family

1959, Frank Willems and children in front of the family's home on Union Road near Paris, Arkansas