4-28-1930 Great Bend Tribune, Obituary Peter William Deets
Peter William Deets was born August 31, 1858 in Midiapolis, Des Moines County, Iowa and departed life April 18th, 1930 at his home near Garfield, Kans., at the age of 71 years, 7 months and 17 days.
He grew to manhood in the vicinity of his birth and on March 1, 18886 he came to Kansas and settled on a farm six miles northwest of Great Bend.
On June 13, 1888 he was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Leek at Great Bend, Kan. To this union were born twelve children.
On August 1, 1908 he moved with his family to Pawnee county and purchased a farm near Garfield where he build a commodious home and lived until his death.
In early manhood he united with the Presbyterian church in Iowa but a few years later under the ministry of Rev R A Dadisman in Barton county, Kansas he united with the Methodist Episcopal church to which he remained a member until he joined the church triumphant. He was an active official member of the church, serving on the board of trustees for several years prior to his death.
On June 13, 1929, Mr and Mrs Deets celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary with about fifty relatives present.
In his departure the home suffers the loss of a most devoted husband and father; the community an industrious, enterprising, worthy and highly esteemed citizen and a friend and neighbor excelled; the church a faithful and regular attendant and a loyal supporter.
It is said that upon leaving the vicinity of Great Bend no man had left more friends than did he. And certainly he has made as many more during the years he resided in the Garfield community.
His last illness was a few days duration but very severe yet not a murmur of complain fell from his lips.
He is survived by his wife and eleven children. One son, Elmer J preceded his father in death on June 5th, 1927. The eleven children were all present during his sickness and at the hour of death.
The surviving children are: Mrs Mabel Amerine of Haviland, Kans., William T, Garfield, Kan., Austin J , South Have, Kans., Mrs Viola Godfrey and Mrs Hazel Couchman of Garfield, Kans, Raymond M Portland, Kan., Mrs Inez Darst , Kinsley, Kan., Mrs Velma Rains, Milton, Chas., Mildred Margaret and Merwyn Claude all of Garfield, Kan.
He is also survived by 21 grand children and one great grandchild, one brother Smith H Jackson, of Sperry, Iowa, who was adopted when a child by Mr and Mrs Jackson, one half brother, Judson L Deets, Of Oklahoma City, OK, and two half-sisters, Mrs Mary Varnice of Mediapolis, Iowa, Mrs Libbie Riley of Kansas City, MO also a number of nieces and nephews in Iowa and a host of friends in Iowa and Kansas.
The funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon April 20th from the M E church in Garfield by the pastor Rev W B Summers assisted by Rev W M Austin, a former pastor now of St. John and Rev C A Kitch of Great Bend. interment was in the Garfield Cemetery.
The funeral was one of the largest ever held at Garfield and evidenced the high esteem in which Mr Deets was held. Floral offerings were profuse and beautiful.