Thursday, August, 1944. There is no source for this newspaper clipping found in the collection of his sister, Annie Gabel. Most likely source is the Akron, Iowa newspaper.

Sudden Summons to Supervisor Dick Bohlken

Had Been Confined to Home About Ten Days; Funeral Friday Afternoon

Coming as a great shock to the community and to his host of friends in Plymouth county and adjacent counties was the announcement of the death of County Supervisor Dick Bohlken at his home in this city at about 5:00 o'clock Monday afternoon, July 31, 1944, due to a heart attack. Comparatively few people knew that Mr. Bohlken had been ailing and had been in bed for about a week and a half under his doctor's orders. He was up and about the house Monday, stating that he felt better than he had for some time past. His son Darrell, who had been home on a visit and vacation for a couple of weeks, left Monday morning to return to Long Beach, Calif., where he is employed in the shipyards; but he was reached in Wyoming by a telegram advising him of his father's death and returned here. Two of his daughters, Lucille and Thelma, also employed at Long Beach, will arrive home this (Thursday) evening.

Dick Bohlken was born October 19, 1882, in Preston township, where his parents, Mr and Mrs. Siefke Bohlken, among the early settlers of Plymouth county homesteaded in 1870, after coming to Jones county, Iowa, from Germany in 1864 (NOTE; the correct year was 1868) Mr. Bohlken received his education in the schools of Preston township and grew to manhood on the home farm, where as a lad he assisted his father with the work on the farm. He later operated the home farm for a time, as well as his father's farm near LeMars. In 1912, he and his twin brother, William, established a livery and feed barn in Akron under firm name of Bohlken Brothers, erecting a building 90 X 120 feet on Mill street for this purpose. They conducted the barn for a number of years and also engaged in the farm implement business.

Mr. Bohlken and Miss Mary Gabel were united in marriage March 7, 1916 in LeMars, Iowa, and came to Akron to live, this remaining their home ever since. There came to bless their union three daughters, Eileen, Lucille and Thelma, and one son, Darrell.

In the spring of 1926, Mr. Bohlken was elected as a member of the town council and served two terms of two years each. In 1932 he was elected mayor for a two year term and in 1934 he was re-elected for another two years. At the time of his death Mr. Bohlken was serving his fifth year as a member of the Plymouth county board of supervisors. In his nearly eighteen years as a public official, both in town and county, Mr. Bohlken made a splendid record of efficient and conscientious service. A man of integrity, friendly and sympathetic in nature, he won the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. A kind and considerate husband and father, his home and family were his most prized possessions. Few men in this county could boast of more firm and steadfast friends than Dick Bohlken, and he will long be remembered as a good and useful citizen and as one who contributed much to the welfare and progress of the community in which he has spent his entire life.

Besides his wife, Mary, and three daughters and one son, Mr. Bohlken is survived by two sisters and four brothers, Mrs. Sofia Aldrich (sic. Sophia Ahlrichs) John and William Bohlken, of LeMars, Iowa; Mrs. Anna Gabel of Akron; George Bohlken of Long Beach, Cal., and Albert Bohlken, of Lisbon, N. D., also by a number of cousins and nephews. (Note: there were also many neices) Mr. Bohlken was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and one brother.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow (Friday) afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, in the Akron Methodist church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. A. A. Howe. Mrs. Hugh Chamberlain will sing favorite hymns. Acting as pallbearers will be County Supervisors Pratt, Schulte, Brownlee and Grimjes, County Treasurer Becker and County Engineer Ernest Nelson. Interment will be in Riverside cemetery.

Out of respect to this prominent citizen, Akron business places will close from 2 to 4 p. m. Friday.