THE VERLA ALBERTA WERKHEISER HOME PAGE

        14311. Verla Alberta Werkheiser (1/16/1896-11/10/1973). Verla is buried in Pleasant View Cemetery, in Kewanee, Illinois. Verla married Carl Bates (7/19/1894-9/14/1982) on February 21, 1921. Carl is buried in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Kewanee, Illinois. They were married at the Presbyterian parsonage in Kewanee, Illinois. They farmed southeast of Kewanee in Stark County unitl 1933 when they rented the McClure farm, five miles northeast of Kewanee in Burns Township. During those ten years they had seven children. Another was born two years after they moved.

        Carl was a hard worker and very handy at carpenter work of fixing just about anything. He made several improvements on the place and always hoped to be able to buy it someday, but when the estate was sold in 1956, none of those improvements were considered, and it went to the highest bidder. He had several different hired hands over the years including some of his brothers and brothers-in-law. Leonard Golden used to tell about working there when Verla would carry the pails for him because they were so heavy. Carl worked together with Verla's brothers, Carl (Hap), Lloyd, Marvin, and especially with Earl as they owned some machinery together and worked with hay as well as planting and harvesting the corn and other crops. Of course, there was always a big bunch at thrashing time.

        Carl was a World War I veteran. He served as a wagoneer for the Army in the European Theatre and received a Silver Star. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and the VFW. He joined the Odd Fellows Lodge 128, and served as Noble Grand. Later he joined the Kewanee Historical Society. He was vice president of Henry County Farm Bureau for many years, tax assessor for Burns Township, precinct committeeman and election judge, president of the School Board, Unit #56, Taylor School. He was a 4-H leader for many years and served on the county 4-H Committee for over twenty years. He was on the Board of the Henry County Cold Storage and served as president of the Prairie Farms Creamery Board.

        Verla was well known for her good cooking--especially bread and rolls. She would bake a dozen loaves of bread almost every day while the kids were growing up. In later years she did most of the baking on Saturdays, because they always had a lot of company on Sundays. "There's always room for one more" seemed to be the motto and visitors were always welcome. After Verla's sister, Rea, lost her husband and became quite ill, she and her three children stayed at the Bates' for a while. For years Verla had Christmas dinner for the Werkheiser side, and every July fourth they would all come for fireworks and homemade ice cream.
        Verla was a charter member of Henry County Home Bureau and a member of Burns Social Circle of the State Road Church. She was a Golden Rule mother of Kewanee and one of three nominated for Illinois Mother of the Year in 1952. She was very thoughtful of others, sending greeting cards to numerous friends and relatives and often visiting the sick or elderly. She was a hard worker.
        One Saturday morning in the "50's", Verla and Phyllis went to an outdoor worship service at the Chapel of the Friendly Trees. Afterwards, Phyllis's friend and co-worker, Lillian Johnson, said, "Well Verla, I suppose you have been up and dressed a dozen chickens this morning." Verla said, "No, just ten." She had actually dressed ten chickens that morning!
        The Bates family belonged to the Primitive Methodist Church and the older children all went to Sunday School there, then later to the State Road Church.
        In 1949, Carl, Verla, Eward and Phyllis joined the Frist Methodist Church in Kewanee. Earl was away at college. The others were all married. Carl and Verla were active in Senior Citizens later on, and Verla belonged to the Berean Class.
        In 1951, Carl and Verla bought 104 acres on the Sale Barn Road. Doris and Ed moved there. Eddie was drafted into the Army, and Earl came home from college to help farm. That fall, the Kewanee mechants held a drawing for a new 1952 Chevrolet from tickets given out for purchases made. Verla won the car!
        In 1952 Carl and Verla bought 77 acres just west and north of the 104 acres. Ed's brother, Floyd Bickers, moved there on the Thanksgiving weekend of 1954. Earl and Kleo Bates made that their home.
        In 1956, Carl, Verla, and Phyllis, moved to their own place. Doris's family bought a house in town. In 1969, Carl and Verla bought 160 acres north of the 77 acres. Later they bought 26.8 acres from the Methodist Church. At that time they had 33 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. To date Verla and Carl have ninety descendants. Verla died of cancer at the age of 77. Carl had looked after her and made it possible for her to stay at home until about two weeks before she died. He took over the household and even baked cookies and pies. Later he had surgery on both hips, and suffered extreme pain with arthritis. When he could cope no longer, he took his own life at the age of 88. This synopsis was written by the youngest daughter, Phyllis. Verla and Carl had eight children:

        143111. Thomas Freemont Bates married Arlene Huffman on September 15, 1945. Tom farmed around the Galva area, working with Arlene's Dad and brother. They and her folks built new homes side by side around 1967. Thomas and Arlene had two children:
        1431111. Bonnie Diane Bates married David DeMay on August 23, 1969. They had two children:
        14311111. Donavon Lee DeMay.
        14311112. Leslie Ann DeMay.
        1431112. Daniel Carl Bates married Pamela Sue Wolfe on February 14, 1976. They had two children:
        14311121. Jason Lee Bates (adopted).
        14311122. Eric Mathew Bates.
        143112. Doris Mae Bates married Edd Bickers (8/23/1912-2/9/1990) around 1943. Doris and Edd had seven children, but lost two at birth. Edd was a policeman, then they owned and operated the City Cab Line. Later he worked at the Boiler Corporation, then did construction work, and finally was a custodian for the Kewanee School system. Doris did cleaning for individuals, then worked as a custodian at the high school. Then she got a job as a bus driver for Kewanee schools. Doris and Edd had seven children:
        1431121. Jerry Lee Bickers (died in infancy).
        1431122. Cheryl Bickers maried Ronald Heston on May 23, 1966. They had three children:
        14311221. Candy Heston who has a son:
        143112211. Mikael Scott.
        14311222. Scott Alan Heston.
        14311223. Michael Scott Heston.
        1431123. Alana Bickers married William McNeely on January 4, 1969. Alana was premature and weighed only about 3 lbs. The doctor, unknowingly left her in oxygen too long and the retinas in her eyes were destroyed. She attended Jacksonville School for the Blind from age five until she was in high school. She graduated from Kewanee High School. It was the first time a dog had been allowed in the school, but she got special permission to bring her seeing eye dog to school with her. They had three children:
        14311231. Traesha McNeely.
        14311232. Garnet McNeely.
        14311233. Dusten McNeely.
        1431124. Marcia Bickers married Louis Klein II on April 2, 1971. They had two children:
        14311241. Joseph Klein.
        14311242. Mindy Klein.
        1431125. Edd Dee Bickers.
        1431126. Mary Bickers married Dennis Rogers and then they divorced in 1978. They had two childen:
        14311251. Daun Rogers.
        14311252. Angela Rogers.
        Mary then married Ronald Ashpole.
        143113. Lois Marjorie Bates married Wilbur Dienst on September 27, 1946. Lois and Wilbur farmed on his home place in Somonauk, Illinois, after their marriage until 1962 when they bought a farm near Osceola, Illinois. They had a pond and stocked it with fish. Every fourth of July the whole family would come for a pot luck dinner. After dinner all the younger set would go swimming. In later years, the family would go to Lois's for dinner, then to son Rodney's for swimming, since they had a new house and pond.
        The younger son, Wayne, also lived nearby. In 1990 his youngest son, Wesley, had a liver transplant as a result of the rare "Wilson's disease." Wilbur worked for J & L steel plant for eighteen and half years, retiring in 1987, and farming on the side. Lois and Wilbur had two children:
        1431131. Rodney Edward Dienst married Sharon De Ford Nunes on August 6, 1976. They have three children:
        14311311. Richard Dale Nunes Dienst (adopted).
        14311312. Keith Allen Nunes Dienst (adopted).
        14311313. Kenneth Edward Dienst.
        Richard and Keith were Sharon's children by a previous marriage.
        1431132. Wayne Dienst married Sandy Veisalage on September 8, 1973. They have two children:
        14311321. William Edward Dienst.
        14311322. Wesley Earl Dienst. Wesley had a liver transplant on April 14, 1990.
        143114. Alice Louise Bates married Wilbur Hutchinson. Alice and Wilbur farmed in Cornwall township near Atkinson, Illinois. They also ran a trucking business. Alice and Wib moved to Geneseo in 1985. Their son, Darrell, took over the trucking business and moved on the home place.
        Alice was noted for her decorated cakes. She made graduation and wedding cakes for most of the family as well as birthday cakes, etc.. Wib had open heart surgery and Alcie suffered from Grave's disease after they moved to town. Alice and Wilbur had four children:
        1431141. Darrell Hutchinson married Doris Wallheim on August 25, 1973. They had two children:
        14311411. Amy Hutchinson.
        14311412. Darren Frank Hutchinson.
        1431142. Dennis Hutchinson married Carol Wright on October 6, 1973. They had two children:
        14311421. Kurt Hutchinson.
        14311422. Tony Hutchinson.
        1431143. Diane Hutchinson married Steven McCann on June 17, 1978. They had two childern:
        14311431. Allison Jean McCann.
        14311432. Michael Steven McCann.
        1431144. Darla Hutchinson married Mark Anderson on November 26, 1977. They have three children:
        14311441. Adam Mark Anderson.
        14311442. Aaron Reed Anderson.
        14311443. Ashley Diane Anderson.
        143115. Donna Gene Bates married John Nelson around 1949. Donna and John farmed north of Geneseo. John was a 4-H leader for about 25 years and was the township tax assessor. Donna assisted John with the book work, etc.. She is an excellant cook and hostess. For several years, their son Mike's, in-laws would come down from Chicago and Donna and John hosted a supper and square dance for many friends and neighbors and relatives. Mike's father-in-law was the caller. Donna and John had five children:
        1431151. Michael Nelson married Donna Hempel on November 22, 1974, and then they divorced. They had on child:
        14311511. Christine Lyn Nelson.
        1431152. David John Nelson married Michelle Morey Johnson on May 7, 1987.
        1431153. Susan Joyce Nelson married Roger Van Opdorp in 1975. They had two children:
        14311531. Richard Austin Van Opdorp.
        14311532. Jonathan Van Opdorp.
        1431154. Steven Arthur Nelson married Diane Chastan on September 6, 1975.
        1431155. Linda Tella Nelson married Steven Sellon on December 10, 1980. They had two children:
        14311551. Nicole Marie Sellon.
        14311552. Kelsey Jo Sellon.
        143116. Edward Carl Bates married Carol Mowers on October 28, 1956. Eddie and Carol lived on the McClure place for a year after Carl and Verla moved. In 1957 they rented a farm east of Galva. They were very active in the Farm Bureau, Eddie serving on the Board for twelve years, four years as vice-president. Carol served as president of the Farm Bureau Women's committee. Eddie also served on the Henry Service Board for 11 years, being president for seven.

        He was a 4-H leader for 22 years and served on the county 4-H and Youth Council almost twenty years. Carol worked at Sunnyfield Farm & Garden Center for about five years, then got a job as plant manger at Wal-Mart in Kewanee.

        Their son, Carl Edward, had a malignant tumor on the spine when he was twelve years old. He responded well to experimental treatment and was completely cured and is the father of two children. Edward and Carol had five children:

        1431161. Carrie Jean Bates (10/5/1957-10/5/1957).
        1431162. Judy Ann Bates marrie Christian Simonson on March 6, 1982. They had one child:
        14311621. Cullin Dian Simonson.
        1431163. Carl Edward Bates married Pamela Holevost on August 19, 1980. They had two children:
        14311631. Tara Marie Bates.
        14311632. Tyler Carl Bates.
        1431164. Ernest Earl Bates married Sarah Jo Lower on June 1, 1985. They have one child:
        14311641. Taylor Anne Bates.
        1431165. Verla Marie Bates married Scott Hemrich on June 28, 1986. They have two children:
        14311651. Paul Houston Hemrich.
        14311652. Erin Marie Hemrich.
        143117. Earl Warren Bates married Kleo Melton on June 20, 1953. Earl and Kleo got married while he was in the Army. They lived in a trailer at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky, and for a short time at one in Kewanee until they moved onto the 77 acres purchased by Carl, his father, in 1952.
        Earl served on the county 4-H committee and was on the Farm Bureau Board for seventeen years, serving three years as president. He was elected to the Board of Illinois Eletric Co-op in 1981 and has been president for four years.
        Kleo worked at Murphy's Book Store about ten years and now delivers parts for NAPA Auto Parts. Their son Brad, now lives where Earl and Kleo lived and is doing the farming there. Earl and Kleo moved to Carl's place after his death. Earl is working for his son, Roger, at his garage business. They have five children:
        1431171. Brad Steven Bates married Denise Evert on July 7, 1982. They have two children:
        14311711. Sarah Michelle Bates.
        14311712. Brian Earl Bates.
        1431172. Debra Kay Bates married Dennis Bartman on September 20, 1980. They had one child:
        14311721. Jared Lee Bartman.
        1431173. Jeffery Scott Bates married Nancy De Reu on December 5, 1975. They had three children:
        14311731. Christopher Bates.
        14311732. Scott Bates.
        14311733. Janelle Loraine Bates.
        1431174. Roger Earl Bates married Annette Croegart in 1987. They have one child:
        14311741. Melissa Ann Bates.
        1431175. Beth Sue Bates.
        143118. Phyliss Ann Bates married Alvin Hepner on September 22, 1957. Phyliss and Al farmed northeast of Kewanee. She was a 4-H leader for ten years and served two terms on the county 4-H and Youth Council. She played the accordion from age six and taught lessons during high school. She directed the Junior Choir for twenty years and Senior Choir for six years at the Church of Peace.
        Al served as vice president of the Church Council for six years, is a volunteer fireman, and served on the Illinois Valley Electric Co-op Board for sixteen years, being president for three years. In 1975 the State of Illinois condemned 200 acres of their property and bought it to expand Jounson Sauk Trail State Park. For several years their children put on musical and variety programs for church and community groups. They had six children:
        1431181. Julie Alice Hepner married Steven Manesmith on September 26, 1980. They divorced in 1987. She then married W. Bruce West on September 10, 1988.
        1431182. Laurie Lois Hepner married William La Sage on April 3, 1983. They had two children:
        14311821. Amanda La Sage.
        14311822. Brandon La Sage.
        1431183. Audrey Doris Hepner married Rodney Becker in 1987. They had one child:
        14311831. Jordon Becker.
        1431184. Darcy Donna Hepner.
        1421185. Michele Ann Hepner.
        1421186. Harley Alvin Hepner.

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