Obituaries--R.J Sweezey, James Morton, John Weiler, and Gerrit DeKoning

Today, I am giving a taste of strictly community column death notices. Probably they technically are not really obituaries, but still they may be the only public notice given of these deaths. All are from the same issue of the paper, and one individual was mentioned in two different columns, with of course, different "facts". All are lean on details, but at least there is something.

From the 10 February 1916, Fremont TimesIndicator:

R. J. Sweezey died at his home one mile east of Tyndall school house Sunday evening after a long ilness. He leaves a wife, two sons and one daughter to mourn their loss. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community.

And again:

Robert Sweezy died at his home on Dayton township Sunday at the age of 59 years. The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Tindall schoolhouse conducted by Rev. R. A. Thibos. Interment in Evans cemetery.

James Morton, aged 55 years, died early Monday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs Mose Harding on Sheridan street. The funeral will be held at the home of Mrs Harding this morning conducted by Rev. C. E. Brenneman of the United Brethern church. The body will be taken to Hesperia for interment.

The body of Gerrit DeKoning, former resident of this place, who died at his home in big Rapids the first part of last week, was brought here Friday for burial. The funeral services were held in the Reformed church, Rev. J. D. Dykstra officiating.

John Weiler passed away at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Thill, near Sitka last Saturday at the age of 75 years. The funeral was held at the Brunswick Catholic church yesterday morning and interment took place at Holton.

Short and to the point, and usually too late if you wanted to attend the service, these community columns still did a good job of keeping their neighborhood informed of not only who was motoring to another town, or who had company for a Saturday evening, but also of vital community news.