Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Bricker, Willis F. 1927 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net August 15, 2014, 11:58 am Belding Banner-News, 20 Oct 1927 Death Takes Another Citizen From Us Former Mayor, Postmaster, Legislator and Builder Answered Summons. Death, sudden and unexpected, claimed the life of another one of the prominent citizens of this community, when it called and took from our midst, Willis F. Bricker, aged 73 years and perhaps the best known and highest esteemed man living in this city. Mr. Bricker had been in poor health for several years, but was always up and around, smiling, cheerful, hopeful, with a warm greeting and an optimistic outlook for the future at all times. He had been about as usual on Wednesday but when he went to bed that night he had remarked to Mrs. Bricker that he felt none too good and a short time afterwards he got up and took some simple home remedy which had always been resorted to in relieving him. Mrs. Bricker had been called to the home of her son, Wilford, nearby, when the attack struck her husband and altho a physician was on hand almost immediately, nothing could be done and he passed away within a short time. “Will” Bricker was one of the greatest community builders this city ever had to say nothing of the moral influence he exerted by the sterling character which he possessed and the incalculable good which he gave to the community in which he lived, he had, in his career here built nearly 65 homes and business places in the city. His ambitions were not a lust for money, power and wealth, but were guided by a desire to assist his fellow-men in bettering their conditions and lives and it has yet to be said by the first person, that he ever deviated from the golden rule in any of his transactions. Few men, indeed are there who can and do live the wholesome, unselfish lives and maintain an unblemished character, as did our friend, W.F. Bricker. Funeral services were held at the Bricker residence on Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, Rev. H.E. Curch officiating and burial was in River Ridge cemetery. A large concourse of friends were present at the funeral and follow the remains to the grave. Pall bearers were Frank O’Bryon, Art Strong, Elmer Wise, Sumner Wilson, Glenn E. Wortly and Mert Eaves. Honorary bearers were: Henry J. Leonard, Albert Weter, Charles Wise, Dr. Stanton, Dr. Pinkham, Charles Madden, John DeVlieger, Charles O’Bryon, Harry A. Lamb, Elvon C. Lloyd, George W. Moulton and Harry J. Connell. In March of this year, Mr. Bricker prepared the following obituary, which along with an article headed “Faith and Hope,” was read as a part of his funeral services. ------------ Willis Fillmore Bricker was born in Ada, Hardin county, Ohio, May 20th, 1854. His father and mother were both born in Ohio, of Dutch and Yankee descent. In the year 1865, at the close of the war of the rebellion in which his father served, he moved with his father and family to Indiana, and in the spring of 1866 to Michigan, to a place known as Waterville, two miles south of Saranac, Ionia county, where the father owned a farm and sawmill. About the year 1868, they moved to a farm south of Belding in the township of Otisco, where they lived until 1873, when they moved to Belding. After coming to Belding, Willis worked in a sawmill summers for Wilson, Luther and Wilson, eleven hours a day, for a wage of $1.50 per day. He also worked in the pine woods winters from day-light until dark, for $26.00 a month and board, at the lumber shanties. In 1876 he entered into partnership with George Ranney in the meat business. On January 1st, 1877, he was united in marriage to Martha Ann Cain, of Brantford, Ont. The wedding ceremony was performed at the home of George Ranney (now the Fitzjohn home) by the Rev. Millard. One of the witnesses being the late Wm. A. Luther, who insisted on being present to see his former employee married. This union in marriage was broken by the death of the wife ten years later. A pair of twin boys were born to them, but died nine months later. The next child was a girl who was three years old at her mother’s death. She is now the wife of Vern C. Devine. She was named Neva Belle. After living single two years, Mr. Bricker was united in marriage to Odelia Mehny, by Rev. Wm. Buhl, of Belding, in his own home – the first house built by him in the early spring of 1877 on the site where he afterwards built the Hotel Bricker block, now the Banner-News building. From this marriage, four children were born to them and all are now married. They are Hazel Pearl, now Mrs. Harry Fletcher; Wilford F; June Lucille, now Mrs. Don W. Stewart; George Gordon Bricker. The most of the life of Mr. Bricker was spent in the mercantile business, in which he was engaged for forty-two years. He was also in the real estate and building business for many years. His first political appointment came when he was appointed Belding postmaster under President Cleveland’s first administration. He served four years until a change of administration. His first political office by election was as alderman of the third ward, for two years. Afterwards he was elected mayor on the democratic ticket. To the office of mayor, he was elected six different terms. In the fall of 1896, he was elected to the state legislature, and again elected to the 1911 and 1912 legislature, and again for 1913 and 1914. He served under Pingree, Osborne and Ferris. He was later appointed postmaster by President Wilson and served almost nine years, holding over into the Harding administration. He sold out his mercantile business January 25th, 1921. At the expiration of his last term as postmaster, he retired from active business, except looking after his resort at Bricker park, Long lake, and his farm and house building affairs. (Written at my home in Belding, Mich., March 12, 1926, for those desiring this brief sketch of my life’s history.) Willis F. Bricker Faith and Hope Man hopes for immortality after death without losing our earthly identity. The desire to live, to accomplish something while here on earth, that would make the world a little better for our having lived here. To live again. The great question is, will we live again, will we retain our earthly identity. Man, unlike the animals, longs for immortality, why not believe it? Many people believe that after death we will awake in some other world and find our relatives and friends who have passed on before. To live with them, talk with them, as we did here on earth. One of this world’s great thinkers, Herbert Spencer, said he believed that his last breath would be the end of him, body, soul and spirit. Many other great thinkers believe the same. I have faith and hope that such is not the case. I have faith to believe that I shall live again. That death is not the end. I have no faith to believe we will meet and know our friends. When we were born into this world, we knew neither father nor mother. We simply grew up to know them. My faith is that we will be born again and here on this earth. This earth is a beautiful heaven if we only make it such. What can we imagine more beautiful and wonderful than this, our earthly heaven. It was God’s plan, and it was made for us, His children. Some people believe in a future hell. I have faith to believe there is no hell, except as we make it for ourselves here on earth. The better we live and the more we do to help our fellow men, the more we make and enjoy our earthly life. I have no fear of future punishment. I do hope that the world is a little better for my having lived in it. There is a veil that hides the future from our eyes, and no man knows just what is beyond. God knows best, so I am satisfied to leave it to him. My hope and wish is for a future life and heaven for all of God’s children, no matter what their belief. For the last song sung at my funeral, I want that beautiful national anthem, “America.” Written by me this 31st day of March, 1927. – Willis F. Bricker. Pall bearers – Frank O’Bryon, Art Strong, Elmer Wise, Sumner Wilson, Glenn Wortley, Mert Eaves. Honorary Bearers – Henry Leonard, Albert Weter, Charlie Wise, Dr. Stanton, Charles Madden, John DeVlieger, Charles O’Bryon, Harry Lamb, Elvon Lloyd, George Moulton, Harry Connell. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/b/bricker26564nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 8.7 Kb