Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Houfstatter, George W. April 30, 1904
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Patricia Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net November 15, 2021, 12:13 pm

Lake Odessa Wave Friday May 6, 1904

A PROMINENT MAN THE VICTIM
Pneumonia Defies The Best of Medical Skill
George W. Houfstatter, Dies at His Home in Woodland, Sunday, His death a Severe 
Shock to the Community.
This community and Woodland was terribly shocked last Saturday afternoon on 
learning of the death of George W. Houfstatter at his home in Woodland, after a 
comparatively short illness. Mr. Houfstatter was taken ill a couple of weeks 
previous with a lung trouble which developed into pleura pneumonia and his 
recovery was in doubt at once. The last medical skill that could be obtained was 
at hand and did all possible to relieve the stricken man, but he gradually sank 
to the end. On Saturday morning an operation was performed, to relief him as a 
last resort. A great amount of matter was drawn from around his face in the 
operation, but he never fully recovered from it and swiftly sank to his final 
rest.

George W. Houfstatter was born in Rutland, Barry county, Michigan, on August 11, 
1869 and died in Woodland on April 30th, 1904.

He has been a resident of Barry county all his life, coming to Woodland from a 
farm north of Nashville, about two years ago. He was united in marriage to Miss 
Kate Landis February 8th 1888, and to this most happy union has been born two 
boys, Voigt and Russell G., two exceptionally bright and promising fellows.

Besides this grief stricken little family he leaves a father and mother, and a 
host of relatives, all of whom morn their loss keenly.

Mr Houdstatter early took hold of business and has been successful in almost 
every undertaking that he has made. He long ago commenced to buy hay and bale 
the "kame" and this alone grew to immense proportions, and made him a broad 
acquaintance among the farmers of Barry, Eaton and Ionia counties, all of whom 
found in him every attribute of an honest and true business man and a gentleman 
wherever placed.

A number of years ago Mr. Houfstatter associated himself with F. B. Nims of this 
village, and has been identified with him and with F.B. Nims & Co. ever since. 
Through Mr. Houfstatter's transactions thousands of dollars have been paid to 
the farmers of this section, and  he has meant much to this town and Woodland, 
possibly more to the latter, because that is where he lived and where most of 
his business was centered, and it is the people of Woodland that will feel 
keenest of the loss of this businessman.

Mr. Houfstatter was a member of the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias and 
Maccabees, in each of which he proved himself as enthusiastic and loyal 
supporter, and a worker of the same order that he put into his business 
ventures. As a friend a fellow associate he was kind, thoughtful, sincere, and 
in times of need was one of the first to offer assistance and to the unfortunate 
ones around him. He was a member of no religious organization, but a christian 
man in every other walk of life, as deep down in his heart bubbled a well spring 
of true christian spirit and principal, and his life is one that could be 
followed with profit spiritually to any one.

Aside from a considerable property which he accumulated in his young life, he 
had further provided for his family in carrying sufficient life insurance to 
keep his little ones and wife from want should they be left alone, as now.

The funeral was held at the M.E. church in Woodland on Tuesday afternoon. the 
remains were interred in Lakeside cemetery. The services were very impressive 
and were attended by as large a crowd as ever was present at a funeral in that 
village. The Floral tributes from the relatives, friends, secret societies, and 
business men were beautiful and almost buried the casket in which lay the form 
of one so well known and as well liked.

Mrs. Houfstatter and her little family have the deepest sympathy of all, but she 
can rest proud in the act of the esteem in which her departed husband was held 
by  his fellow workers, and the people in general.

Several were present at the funeral from this village

Additional Comments:
Lakeside Cem.#5-608

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