Ozaukee County News Articles

The Sheboygan Press
Tuesday, February 3, 1959

Former Residents Celebrate
65th Wedding Anniversary

Mr. and Mrs. William Haenke, Gilbert, Minn., former residents of Waubeka and Sheboygan County, were feted recently at an open house in observance of their 65th wedding anniversary. Grandchildren assisted as hostesses for 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 neighbors from the area presented the celebrants with numerous gifts, including a television set.

Marriage of the honorees occurred at Waubeka in 1894, Mrs. Haenke being the former Ida Wenzel, Waubeka. Her husband, a native of rural Adell, for some time was engaged as a cattle buyer. Later, he took up a homestead claim in Minnesota. The Haenkes returned 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 District of Northern St. Louis County. Two children were born to the couple. A son, William H. resides at Eveleth and a daughter, Mrs. Oscar (Florence) Engstrom, passed away in 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 the following testimonial:

"Eighty-eight years old, we should say young, this sturdy man of the soil remains as active as ever; he has developed three farms. A pioneer in the use of commercial fertilizer, 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 flocks of 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. Louis County Club, he has not missed a meeting in the 50 years of his membership. He has been president of the St. Louis County Fair Board for more than 25 years and also a member of the Lakeland Hutter Fair Board. In 1934, he received the State Department of Agriculture Premier Certified Seed Potato Grower's Award and was recipient of an award from the State Horticultural Society in 1948 for being an outstanding developer of certifier seed. Last year, the State Department of Agriculture also used his picture on 25,000 letterheads in advertising certified seed potatoes.

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

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