Wilbur started work at the Decorah News Co, 7 Sep 1953 and worked there until 28 Aug 1969 when he began working at Luther College in the heating plant. He remained there until 11 June 1992. He bought a home in Freeport in 1956 and lived there until his death on 19 Jun 1992. He died of massive heart failure. Wilbur belonged to the Decorah Lutheran Church. He enjoyed fishing, metal detecting, coin collecting and took great pride in his garden.

Esther lived in Decorah until 1940 when she moved with her parents to Afton, Wl where her father worked for Fairbanks & Morse in Beloit, Wl making submarine motors during WWII. They moved back to Decorah in 1943 to Canoe Twp. and then to Freeport where Esther still resides. She was night manager of the Deluxe Hotel before her marriage and then started work at the Decorah News Co. 26 Jul 1962 and stayed there until Nov of 1969. Esther went back to the News Co. 3 Jun 1972 as Foreman in the mailing room and remained there until 23 Jul 1975. She is a member of the Decorah Lutheran Church. Esther enjoys driving, rock collecting for her flower gardens, making pillow dolls and many other crafts.

Houck, William and Marjorie Ellen (Bowman)

(Carrie Houck Lee and Harvey Houck)

William Houck was born 23 Nov 1858 to Jacob and Anna (Sill) Houck. Jacob was born 1 Jan 1824 in Pennsylvania. Anna was born in New York State 14 Oct 1828. William had 2 brothers, Francis Wayland and Charles Newel and one adopted sister, Mrs. Wilbur (Emma) Duprez.

William and Marjorie Houck and little Francis.

William married Ellen Bowman 1 Sep 1883 at the St. Cloud Hotel. Ellen was born 25 Apr 1861 in Canoe Twp., the daughter of Lysander Bowman. Her siblings were: Annie, Minnie, Millissaand Ernest.

William and Ellen had 2 children: Francis and Mabel. Francis LeRov was born 9 Jul 1884 in Burr Oak and married StellaTosten 21 Dec 1927. They had 4 children: Wilbur

LeRoy, Charles William, Harvey Jacob and Marjorie Ellen (Gottschling).

Mabel went to school in Burr Oak and Michigan. She had one daughter, Gail Clark.

William helped his father run the mercantile in Burr Oak and later became owner. He was a postmaster for a time and also delivered eggs between Decorah and Burr Oak. William was in the first organized band . He also owned a livery stable in Decorah and farmed in Michigan for about 9 years. He lived in Oregon for about a year along with other family members. During the Depression he moved his family to Pennsylvania and worked on the WPM road crews. The family moved back to Michigan where Ellen died 11 Feb 1937. William died 13 Mar 1938 in PA. They are both buried in the Burr Oak Cemetery.

Houdek, Robert C. and Suzanne (Bryant)

(Suzanne Houdek)

Suzanne K. Bryant was born at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA. She is the daughter of Gary D. and Barbara J. (Sepzer) Bryant. When Suzanne was in kindergarten, the family moved to a farm north of Decorah in the Canoe Ridge area. Suzanne attended the Decorah schools and graduated from Thomas Roberts High School in 1988. She then attended Des Moines Area Community College for two years majoring in recreational therapy. Suzanne has one sister, Angela (Bryant) Van Roekel, of West Des Moines.

On 23 Sep 1995 Suzanne married Robert C. Houdek at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. Robert, the son of Don and Bertine Houdek, was born 19 Aug 1965 in Cresco. He has one brother and 2 sisters. Robert attended the Cresco schools and graduated from Cresco High School. He has two daughters, Miranda J. and Erin M., by a previous marriage.

Robert and Suzanne make their home in Cresco. Suzanne works in the Dietary Department at the Winneshiek Co. Memorial Hospital. Robert is self-employed, buying and selling farm machinery. He also works part-time as an auctioneer.

Hougen, Johan Olai

(Paul Hougen)

Johan Olai Hougen was the oldest child of Jens Johannessen and Christine (Olsdtr.) Hougen. He was born 6 Mar 1857 on the farm of Bringedalsberget, Heroysund near the parish of Kvinnherad, Norway.

He was but 8 weeks old when they migrated to America. In 1872 Johan began his studies at Luther College spending 7 years in the Academy and College majoring in the Classics: Greek, Latin, Hebrew, German, Norse and English. Following graduation Johan entered the Theological Seminary of the Norwegian Synod.

After serving in Fargo, North Dakota, Canton, South Dakota and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, he became the Pastor of the Decorah Lutheran Church from 1897 -1907.