BOECKING SERVICES HELD SUNDAY - HAD BEEN A RESIDENT OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS.

Wm. Boecking was born Jan. 15, 1860 at Kreiseigen, West Phalin, Oberdielfen, Germany and departed this life on Aug. 2, 1938 at the home of his son in Grand Island, Nebr. He came to America with his parents in 1868, and settled on a farm with them in Livingston County, Ill. In 1878 they came westward and first located on a farm four miles east of Grand Island, Nebr. and later his parents homesteaded about eight miles east of Litchfield, Nebr. In 1882 Wm. Boecking, himself took a homestead and also a timber claim five miles west and one mile south of Litchfield, and on Feb. 19, 1883 was united in marriage to Emma Fienhold. He and his good wife moved into their sod house, which was later supplanted with a frame house, and this frame house was in later years again removed and a new one built to conform more nearly to the more modern type of house.
Here he and his wife pioneered together, meeting with strong confidence and a high degree of Christian faith and determination the sacrifices and the pleasures incident to the raising of a family of twelve children under conditions as they existed.
Nine children, one brother, one sister, twenty-one grandchildren and nine great grandchildren survive to mourn his going. viz: A.W. Boecking, Grand Island, Nebr.; Mrs. Ira Douglas, Riverton, Wyo.; Mrs. Meridith Parry, Litchfield, Nebr.; H.E. Boecking, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Mrs. Geo. Patterson, Long Beach, Calif.; H.W. Boecking, Grand Island, Nebr.; G.F. Boecking, Riverton, Wyo.; Mrs. J.F. Bowzer, Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Mrs. R.E. Morgan of Seattle, Wash.; John Boecking, Litchfield (brother) and Mrs. Mary Ruland, Litchfield (sister).
Three children and his wife preceded him in death, as follows: Charles H., on Nov. 19, 1886, William, Jr. on Sept. 9, 1895, Ida M. Kinifiler, on Mar. 9, 1910, and his wife, Emma, on Jan. 2, 1922.
Wm. Boecking served his country and his community well. He was very active in church work in his local community and also took a deep interest in other civic and political enterprises. He served as Director of Schools in his district for 26 years of uninterrupted service.
His passing removes just one more of those rugged type of individuals who pioneered this great country and who have endured the hardships and have made the necessary sacrifices which have placed churches and schools on hills and in valleys where formerly stood the wigwam. They have endeavored to make two blades of grass grow where formerly but one grew. Wm. Boecking was a PIONEER. He will be missed greatly by all who knew him.
Thus comes to a close the life of one who through approximately 60 years of residence in this community, had built for himself a record of citizenship of the highest type and who was universally respected and liked by all who knew him.
Funeral services were held at the M.E. Church in Litchfield Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. conducted by Rev. Story of Kearney. The floral offerings were profuse, serving as a silent testimony as to the high esteem in which the deceased was held. C.E. Lang, Henry Schulz, Jake Krammer, Joe Krammer, Wm. Kieborz and Adam Kieborz served as pallbearers and a quartet composed of Mesdames Brundige and Grice and Messers Wolford and Anderson, with Miss Eleanor Slote at the piano furnished three request numbers.
Interment was in Litchfield cemetery