Holland City News, October 10, 1918

At 8 o’clock Wednesday evening, John A. Wilterdink, living on 24^th St. south of the city, was found lying dead on the floor of his room.

For a few days the old gentleman, who is 79 years of age, felt slightly indisposed. Yesterday, however, he was feeling his usual self and towards evening he lay down to nap.

His son, Edd, called him softly at the supper hour, but as he did not respond, thought he might be sleeping.

At 8 o’clock in the evening his brother came to visit him, and the son then went to the room of Mr. Wilterdink and found him on the floor, dead.

Apparently Mr. Wilterdink tried to get up at the supper hour when called, and was taken by heart failure.

Mr. Wilterdink was one of the old pioneers of ’47, coming here a year after Dr. A. C. Van Raalte. They made the trip over the Atlantic in a sailing vessel in one of the most stormy seasons known at that time, the trip consuming many weeks.

Mr. Wilterdink allied himself with the old Van Raalte Church from the beginning, and for 55 years he has been a constant worker in the First Reformed Church of this city and with the exception of a few years as deacon, he has served that church constantly as an elder.

The funeral will take place Saturday at 2 o’clock from the First Reformed Church, Rev. H. J. Veldman, the pastor of the church, officiating.

The wife of Mr. Wilterdink died 23 years ago. The only survivors are a daughter, Mrs. D. Dykstra, missionary in Arabia, and a son, Edd Wilterdink, at home.

Mr. Wilterdink was a member of the A. C. Van Raalte Post, G. A. R., of this city.

(Buried in Pilgrim Home Cemetery)