WILLIE HERMAN SOEFJE (1895-1969), was born October 5, 1895 near Leesville. Willie spent his early years on his father's farm. He served as a medic in the United States Army during World War I. After the war, he returned to the farm, and on January 20, 1930 in Gonzales County, he married Mrs. ELSIE BESSIE (IVEY) COOK (1912-1980), born January 14, 1912 in Gonzales County. The couple made their home on his farm near Leesville where they farmed and ranched. In the early forties, they moved into a new home built on the farm. Shortly afterwards, the couple was faced with one of the more difficult periods of their lives when Elsie was struck with a disease that left her crippled in one hip. Willie died August 31, 1969 in Gonzales County and Elsie died January 28, 1980 in Gonzales County. Willie and Elsie are both buried in Leesville Cemetery.

Son of:
Gustav "Gus" SOEFJE
and
Bertha (BEHRENDT) SOEFJE.

Grandson of (paternal:
Heinrich "Hy" "Henry" SOEFJE
and
Anna (WILLMANN/WELLMAN) SOEFJE.

Grandson of (maternal):
Julius BEHRENDT
and
Sophie (GLEICH) BEHRENDT, both of Germany.

Brother of:
Hulda (SOEFJE) BURRIS
Louie E. SOEFJE
Martha SOEFJE
Robert A. SOEFJE
Ida SOEFJE
Adam SOEFJE
Harry SOEFJE
Dono G. SOEFJE
Hilda Keith (SOEFJE) BOND

Husband of:
Elsie Bessie (IVEY) SOEFJE.

He was a U. S. Military veteran, World War I.

He worked as a farmer/rancher.

CENSUS RECORDS

1900 US CENSUS
Precinct 4, Gonzales County, Texas
June 27, 1900
-------------------------
DWELLING 266/FAMILY 267
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SOEFJE, Ernest, head, w, m, Dec. 1864, 35, married 6 years, Texas, Germany, Germany, farmer
SOEFJE, Emma [BRUEMMER], wife, w, f, Feb. 1875, 25, married 6 years, 2 children, 2 living, Texa, Germany, Texas
SOEFJE, Anna, daughter, w, f, Nov. 1895, 4, single, Texas, Texas, Texas
SOEFJE, Erwing, son, w, m, Apr. 1897, 3, single, Texas, Texas, Texas
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DWELLING 267/FAMILY 268
---------------------------
SOEFJE, Justoff [Gustav], head, w, m, Jan 1857, 43, married 14 years, Texas, Germany, Germany, farmer
SOEFJE, Bertha [BEHRENDT], wfie, w, f, Oct. 1862, 37, married 14 years, 7 children, 5 living, Texas, Germany, Germany
SOEFJE, Hulda, daughter, w, f, Feb.1 889, 11, single, Texas, Texas, Texas, at school
SOEFJE, Lewis, son, w, m, Dec. 1890, 9, single, Texas, Texas, Texas
SOEFJE, Martha, daughter, w, f, Mar. 1892, 8, single, Texas, Texas, Texas
SOEFJE, William, son, w, m, Oct. 1895, 4, single, Texas, Texas, Texas

SOURCE:
Texas Certificate of Death
U. S. Census Records
Obituary of his son, Charles Louis SOEFJE