Ozaukee County News Articles

The Sheboygan Press
Tuesday, February 3, 1959

Former Residents Celebrate
65th Wedding Anniversary

Mr. and Mrs. William Haenke, Gilbert, Minn., formerresidents of Waubeka and Sheboygan County, were feted recently at an open house inobservance of their 65th wedding anniversary. Grandchildren assisted as hostessesfor the occasion.

A corsage and boutonniere were the gifts from the Duluth and Hibbing Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Gussendorf of the Duluth association made the presentation. About 200 neighborsfrom the area presented the celebrants with numerous gifts, including a televisionset.

Marriage of the honorees occurred at Waubeka in 1894, Mrs. Haenke being the formerIda Wenzel, Waubeka. Her husband, a native of rural Adell, for some time was engagedas a cattle buyer. Later, he took up a homestead claim in Minnesota. The Haenkesreturned to Waubeka for one year in 1899, where they operated the local meat market. In 1922, they returned once more to Minnesota, where they settled in Lakeland Districtof Northern St. Louis County. Two children were born to the couple. A son, WilliamH. resides at Eveleth and a daughter, Mrs. Oscar (Florence) Engstrom, passed awayin 1952. They also have seven grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

The high regard in which the celebrants are held by their community is shown in thefollowing testimonial:

"Eighty-eight years old, we should say young, this sturdy man of the soil remainsas active as ever; he has developed three farms. A pioneer in the use of commercialfertilizer, he also was the first to raise sheep in Lakeland. From his champion,Elkstone Beth, he was instrumental in causing many 4-H club children to have flocksof their own, by giving them a lamb from his champion animal."

He was a promoter in club work for many years. A charter member of the St. LouisCounty Club, he has not missed a meeting in the 50 years of his membership. He hasbeen president of the St. Louis County Fair Board for more than 25 years and alsoa member of the Lakeland Hutter Fair Board. In 1934, he received the State Departmentof Agriculture Premier Certified Seed Potato Grower's Award and was recipient ofan award from the State Horticultural Society in 1948 for being an outstanding developerof certifier seed. Last year, the State Department of Agriculture also used hispicture on 25,000 letterheads in advertising certified seed potatoes.

Additional awards include a plaque received in 1953 from Skelly Oil Co. for superiorachievement in agriculture. He was crowned Sir Knight of the Round Table in 1955in behalf of the County Fair in Hibbing and in 1958, Lakeland Community Club honoredhim with another plaque at a testimonial dinner, as the first person named to NortheasternMinnesota Farm Honor Roll.

Last summer the 88-year-old pair motored to Wisconsin and visited with relativesat Waubeka, Silver Creek and surrounding community.