Obituary--Wyan Arendsen

Another "born in the Netherlands" obituary.  And again, mourners coming from Holland.  As the name implies, that city was gateway to many of the settlers who came to Michigan from the Netherlands. 


From the 9 March 1916, Fremont TimesIndicator:

WYAN ARENDSEN
Wyan Arendsen was born in the Netherlands, May 17, 1840 and emigrated to this country about 50 years ago. He was married to Libbie Hopp in 1865 and to this union were born seven children, five sons and two daughters.
He who knows best called him to a land of rest Wednesday evening, Feb. 23rd, at 8:15 o'clock, being 76 years, nine months and six days of age. Mr. Arendsen leaves to mourn their loss, an aged wife, three sons, Henry, Albert and John, all of Fremont; and two daughters, Mrs. Alice Scott of McCord, Mich., and Mrs. Mary Dunning, of Fremont, sixteen grand-children and twelve great grand-children.
About 31 years ago, Mr. Arendsen purchased a farm northwest of Fremont in Dayton township, where he lived until about seven years ago when old age made the care of the farm too hard for him and his wife and they moved to Fremont and they lived happy and contented until his work was done.  Last November he was stricken with heart trouble which caused his death.
Those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. John Scott, of McCord; Andrew Scott, of Muskegon; Miss Dora Scott, Mrs. Winnie Dysker, Alice Scott, Mrs. Soll, of Grand Rapids; Wm. TImmer and Wm. Hopp, of Holland; Mr. and Mrs. John Hopp and Mrs. Wm. Hopp, of Beaverdam, Mich., and Brad Odell of Big Rapids.
The funeral services were held at the First Christian Reformed church of which he was an active member, Rev. H. Keegstra officiated.  He was laid to rest in Maple Grove cemetery.

Another member of the farming community, apparently coming around the time of the Civil War.  Family man and one who helped to grow this area into what it is today.