12 . Ora Geurink (Henry Johnz, Arent Jan’) was born Town of Easton, WI August 10, 1911.
She married Wiebe Nauta in Forestville Reformed Church, Town of Easton, WI, June 29, 1932.
*Text taken from Wausau newspaper dated July 1, 1932: The Forestville church in the town of Easton was the scene of a very pretty wedding Wednesday afternoon at 3 o’clock when Miss Ora Geurink, daughter of
Henry Geurink of the town of Easton became the bride of Wiebe Nauta. The altar was banked with palms and ferns and decorated with tall white baskets of assorted flowers. Miss Anna Holster played the wedding marches and preceding the marriage service, which was performed by the Rev. F. M. Wiersma. Richard Hettinga sang, “At Dawning” and “I Love You TruIy”.
Members of the bridal party were Mr. and Mrs. Jelke Nauta of Sheboygan, Miss Lorraine Mortenson and Hilbert Geurink of the town of Easton, Master Victor Ten Haken, who served as ring bearer, and the little flower girl, Eva Geurink.
The bride chose for her wedding gown ivory satin and Chantilly lace. The gown was ankle-length and was designed with elbow length puffed sleeves. Her veil was trimmed with seed pearls and was worn in cap effect, caught with orange blossoms, and she wore a necklace of brilliants. She carried an arm shower of Briarcliffe roses and babies-breath.
The matron of honor, Mrs. Jelke Nauta, wore pale pink georgette with a ruffIed jacket and sash of blue, and Miss Mortenson who attended as bridesmaid wore powder blue chiffon. The frock was fashioned with a
tucked, flared skirt and a short ruffled jacket. Both carried bouquets of snapdragons, Johanna Hill roses, carnations and babies breath.
The little flower girl was in yellow satin and wore a rhinestone headband She carried a basket of rosebuds and sweetpeas. the ring bearer was dressed in a white sailor suit and carried the ring on a small green satin pillow.
A reception was held later in the day at the home of the bride’s father, to forty relatives. The house was decorated with wedding bells and streamers of blue, white and pink. Fred Nauta of Iron Mountain, Mich., was an out of town guest.
Mr. and Mrs. Nauta have departed by auto for a trip through the southern part of the state. They will reside on the bridegroom’s farm in the town of Easton and will be at home to friends after July 10.
Wiebe was born in Chicago, IL November 2, 1906.
Wiebe died June 11, 1992 Wausau, WI, at 85 years of age.
*Text taken from Wausau newspaper dated June 13, 1992: Wiebe 0. Nauta, age 85, of Minocqua, died Thursday June 11, 1992, at the Wausau Hospital Center.
He was born November 2, 1906, in Chicago, son of the late Fred and Nellie (nee Stiegces) Nauta. On June 29, 1932, in Wausau he married the former Ora E. Geurink and she survives.
Wiebe moved to Marathon County in 1914 with his parents. He owned and operated the W.O. Nauta Trucking Business for over twenty years in Wausau. After moving to Minocqua he and his wife owned and operated the Woods Motel and the Minocqua Laundromat and Dry Cleaning establishment.
Wiebe was active in his community and served on many government and civic boards. He was also very active in his church, the United Methodist Church of the pines, where he served on various committees and was a long time member of the “Keenagers”.
Survivors include his wife Ora; a daughter, Shirley (Art) Leider, Marinette, WI; a son James (Karen)
Nauta, Wausau, WI; eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren; other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Jelke, Henry, and Fred, and three grandchildren.
Services will be held Sunday, June 14, 1992, at 3:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of the Pines,
Minocqua. The Reverend Raymond Robinson will officiate. Visitation will be held Saturday from 4-8 p.m. at the Campbell Funeral Home, and Sunday from 2-3 p.m. at the Church. Burial will be Monday June 15th at
10:00 a.m. in the Forestville Cemetery Town of Easton (Wausau).
Campbell Funeral Home of Woodruff is in charge of arrangements.
Wiebe and Ora’s wedding took place in the church in June, 1932. Tiny Ora who weighed but 99 lbs. was a beautiful bride in white satin and lace, with a long veil, which was becoming quite traditional. Then a sit down dinner afterward in the Geurink home. Most of Wiebe’s milk patrons and many of the couple’s friends turned out for the traditional chivaree serenade. Wiebe had been living with his mother since his father’s death, and having been a capable homemaker in her own right for three years, Ora found it rather difficult to share a home and kitchen with a new mother-in-law, but after a couple of years they converted the upstairs rooms into an apartment for Mother Nellie. Not only married to brothers, the sisters Ruth and Ora were neighbors for several years and were usually busy with some type of church work especially dinners, socials, and receptions where their culinary skills were a real asset. Both couples were very much involved with the building of a new church for the Forestville congregation. Wiebe and Ora’s children are Shirley and James (Jimmy). Deciding to do less milk hauling and produce some of his own, Wiebe built a fine small basement barn. It was the last old fashioned barn raising in the family. He kept his barn as spotless as Ora kept the house. With the advent of the bulk tanks and tank truck phasing out the use of milk cans, Wiebe discontinued the trucking business and turned to carpentry in which he was talented and did finishing work for Bud Holster, a contractor. It was a turn about, for as a young man Bud drove milk truck for Wiebe!
Wiebe and Ora had always enjoyed the north country, so when an opporttmity came, they moved to Boulder Junction, Wisconsin to work in a resort where they could use their combined talents; Wiebe on maintenance and Ora as hostess and cook Later they became motel proprietors in Woodruff and after some years there, operated a laundromat in nearby Minoqua where they also bought a retirement home in a spic and span wooded setting... Wiebe suffered some severe and near fatal illnesses, but in his recovery surpassed his 80th birthday. They also have celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary.”
*Taken from Annie Geurink’s writing The Geurink’s in Marathon County.
-“Mr. and Mrs. Wiebe Nauta, Minocqua, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary June 26 at Nina’s Supper Club, Wausau. They were married June 29, 1932. The couple have two children: Mrs. Art (Shirley) Leider, Marinette, and James Nauta, 1205 Lily Lane, Wausau. They have five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The couple are members of the Methodist Church of the Pines, Minocqua.” *Anniversary announcement taken from the local newspaper.
Historical events during the life of Ora Geurink:
Ora Geurink and Wiebe Nauta had the following children:
