Obituary of Joe [Jogchum] Harry Byker
Newspaper: Mille Lacs County Times (MN)Published Date: 31 May 1989
Joe Byker
Funeral services for Joe Byker, 87, were held Tuesday, May 30, at the Christian Reformed Church in Pease with the Rev. John Joldersma officiating.
The soloist was Donna Kiel and the organist was Lois Roelofs. Interment was made in the church cemetery.
The casketbearers were grandsons Bran Byker, Bradley Byker, Bruce Byker, Ben Byker, Merlin Kiel, Wes Kiel, Ron Kiel, Dennis Kiel and Curt Kiel.
Byker passed away Saturday, May 27, 1989 at Fairview Milaca Hospital following a short illness.
Joe was born Sept. 21, 1901 to Harry and Grace Byker in Friesland, Holland. When Joe was five, his family ventured to the United States where they settled in Michigan for a time. As a child, Joe lived for a while in Iowa, Montana and Chicago before his family settled in Minnesota. As a teenager, Joe lived and worked on his father's farm in Milo Township near Pease. In 1922, Joe married Margaret Santema. They had one daughter, Gertrude, and three sons, Harry, Gerald and Alan.
The young family made their home in the Chicago area for five years early in their marriage before returning to the Pease area where they engaged in farming. Joe farmed the land and cared for his livestock for the rest of his working life. They lived on the farm until 1978 at which time they took residence in Pease. Margaret preceded Joe in death in 1985. He continued to live on his own until this past year when failing health caused him to become a resident of the Milaca Elim Home. Joe was a long time member of the Christian Reformed Church in Pease where he had served on the church council. Joe was a former member of the Pease Community Christian School Board.
He is survived by his daughter, Gertrude Kiel of Pease, three sons, Harry of Milaca, Gerald of Onamia, Alan of Milaca; 17 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren; three brothers, William, John and Hank all of California, as well as numerous other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, his parents, five brothers, one sister and one granddaughter.
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