Pierce County Call; Pierce Nebraska; 23 September 1915.
Another Pioneer Called
Death called another pioneer and old settler last week in the person of William Voecks, who passed away on the 15th inst. at the age of 71 years, 10 months and 24 days.
Deceased had been in poor health for several years, being afflicted with stomach trouble. For four months previous to his death he was very weak, being confined to his bed and growing weaker gradually until death’s summons came.
Mr. Voecks was one of the early settlers on the Willow in this county. He came here from the Fatherland in the fall of 1872--43 years ago--and went through all the privations and hardships of the pioneers. Here he raised a large family and by frugality, strict economy and good management gathered about him a goodly competence. He was a just man, a good citizen and lived a life that commanded the respect and high regard of his fellow men.
Friedrich Wilhelm Voecks was born in Pommern, Germany on the 20th day of October, 1843. He worked as a servant on a farm in his early days, being united in marriage on April 29, 1872, to Johanna Schulz. In the autumn of the same year he and his bride came to America and took up a homestead in this county, locating on the Willow, west of Pierce. Here 9 children came to bless this union, all surviving except one child which died when a babe. In 1891 the wife passed away and later, in 1904, Mr. Voecks moved to Pierce to make his home. The eight children who survive their father are Mrs. Matilda Draeger, of Norfolk; Emil, Frank, Richard, Ernest and Arthur Voecks and Mrs. Amanda Kirstine and Mrs. Martha Kirstine, all of this county. He is also survived by twenty-eight grandchildren and one great grand child. A brother, Carl, of Norfolk, survives. Deceased was a veteran of the German wars, serving in 1866 in the war between Prussia and Austria and in 1870 in the war between Germany and France.
Short services were held at the home last Friday forenoon with services following at the Christus Lutheran church at 11 o’clock, Rev. J.H. Holzberger having charge of the same. The services were attended by a large concourse of relatives, neighbors and friends. The pall bearers were Henry Meyer, August Juhls, John Poellot, Wm. Hoefs, Fred Splittgerber and August Roepke. The remains were intered (sic) in the Tawney cemetery twelve miles west of Pierce.
Pierce County Call; Pierce, Nebraska; Friday, 17 April 1891 page 8
Mrs. Wm. Voecks of Willow Creek died last Saturday of child birth.