BORN August 30, 1883
ENTERED INTO REST January 9, 1955
AGE 71 years, 4 months, 9 days
SERVICES held from the Methodist Church Manilla, Iowa January 12, 1955
CLERGYMAN Rev. Richard Rowe
INTERMENT Nishnabotna Cemetery Manilla, Iowa
CASKET BEARERS: Theodore Vollstedt, Earl Hickey, Alfred Hutchinson, J.R. Downey, Ralph Justice, Harry Magill

Services Held Wednesday for Pioneer Blacksmith
Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 12, for John Wesley Vennink, who was a blacksmith for Manilla's trade area in the early 1900s.

Rev. Richard Rowe officiated at the services from the Methodist church at 2 p.m. Burial was in the Nishnabotna Cemetery. Pallbearers were Theodore Vollstedt, Earl Hickey, J.R. Downey, Ralph Justice, Harry Magill and Alfred Hutchinson.

John, son of William and Georgia (Helm) Vennink, was born near Vail, August 30, 1883, and died at the home of his sister, Mrs. E.D. Sutton in Memphis, Tennessee, January 9, following a heart attack.

He was 71 years, 4 months, and 9 days of age at the time of his passing.

Mr. Vennink's entire life was spent in Crawford County. As a child he lived on farms in the Manilla, Westside and Vail vicinities. When he was 17, his father died an accidental death.

He became an apprentice blacksmith in Vail and also helped his mother with the care of six younger brothers and sisters.

November 29, 1906, he was married to AnnaBelle Welton of Shellrock. They were the parents of four children: Louis, Miriam (Mrs. Clay Denton), John Edward and Carol, all of whom survive. Mrs. Vennink died February 27, 1939.

In 1908, Mr. Vennink bought his own blacksmith shop in Westside and in 1910 moved to Manilla where he had the blacksmith shop now owned by Ray Jorgensen.

In 1916, he moved to a farm near Manilla and farmed until 1946 when he bought a farm near Westside and moved there. In 1948 he retired and returned to Manilla where he worked at the International Implement Store.

Mr. Vennink was a life-long member of the Methodist Church. He was active in Farm Bureau, 4-H and AAA work.

Besides his children, he is survived by 15 grandchildren, two sisters, Lottie (Mrs. F.L. Kerr) of Manilla, and Luella (Mrs. E.D. Sutton), Memphis, Tennessee, and other relatives.