John D. Woest, a well-known resident of Aspinwall and Manilla communities for nearly half a century, passed away at his home in Walkertown Thursday morning August 31, 1933. Death resulted from cancer of the stomach.

Mr. Woest had not enjoyed the best of health for several years, but his final illness was of only a week's duration. At that time he became quite ill, but the day preceding his demise, felt well enough so that he planned on a trip to town. However, just before starting he was again taken ill and retired to his bed. His death occurred at an early hour the following morning.

John Detlef Woest was born in Albersdorf, Holstein, Germany, September 22, 1864, and passed away at his home in Manilla August 31, 1933, at the age of 68 years, 11 months, and 9 days.

The early years of his life were spent in native land and it was there he was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith to which he remained true until his demise.

In 1885, at the age of 21 years, he immigrated to the United States, coming directly to Crawford County and settling at Aspinwall. For the next 14 years he worked in and around Aspinwall.

In 1890 Mr. Woest was united in marriage with Mrs. Anna Margaretha Schmielau, who survives him. This union was blessed with three children, one of whom passed away at the age of two months. The surviving children are Hugo Woest of Davenport and Miss Frieda of Manilla. Five step-children also survive: Mrs. Kate Johnson and Mrs. Emma Ehman, both of Rock Island, Illinois; Mrs. Anna Ranniger of Vail; John Schmielau and Otto Schmielau, both of Manilla.

For the first three years after his marriage Mr. Woest continued to make his home in Aspinwall, after which period he moved to a farm north of Aspinwall, where the family lived for nine years. In 1911 Mr. Woest retired from the farm and returned to Aspinwall where he resided until three years ago.

Disposing of his property there in 1930, he came to Manilla and purchased property in Walkertown where he has since made his home.

Funeral services were conducted from the home Saturday afternoon at 1:30 and from Trinity Lutheran Church at 2 o'clock. Rev. F.C. Israel conducted both services. Interment was in the Iowa Township Cemetery. Pallbearers were William Schade, Henry Schade, John Weeks, Louis Schroeder, Henry Claussen, and Fred Steckelberg.