Posted on: Ottawa Co., MI Obituaries - A Place to Share Obits about People Who Lived or Died in Ottawa Co., MI Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Mi/OttawaObits?read=173 Surname: De Kraker, De Koster, Karel, Rot, Root ------------------------- Civil War Veteran Dies Early Today Early Wednesday morning Louis De Kraker, age 85 years, and for more than half a century one of the best known meat market men in Holland, died at his home 62 East 15th street Death came suddenly to the veteran of the Civil War. Shortly before he died he was in the best of spirits and the end of his long and very active life had not been expected so soon. Mr. De Kraker retired from active business the day before Thanksgiving day last fall. After being in the harness as a meat dealer since just after the Civil War, going to his meat market every day in the year and taking his full share in the work of a busy market, he decided last fall that he had been on the job long enough and disposed of his business to Isaac De Kraker and James J De Koster In February of this year he held a family reunion at his home in celebration of his 85th birthday anniversary. At that time his children and grandchildren gathered in his home and he liberally remembered them all with gifts. Of an affectionate disposition, he was deeply attached to his near relatives, and he took great pleasure in the reunion. In 1861 Mr. De Kraker answered Lincoln's call for volunteers and for four years he served with Company F. 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. He was never away from his company even for a single day during the war and since 1865 his one recreation was to attend the encampments from time to time where he met the old comrades in arms. Almost immediately afther the war he started a meat market in Holland and he was on the job there almost every day until his retirement last November. He is said to hold the record in Michigan for length of service as an active meat market man. Mr. De Kraker is survived by five children: Henry of Grand Rapids. Isaac, Mrs. Wm. (Annie) Karel, Peter and Mrs. James (Mary) De Koster of Holland The funeral will be held on Monday afternoon, June 30th (1924) at 1:30 at the home 62 East 15th Street, and at two o'clock at the 14th Street Christian Reformed church Holland City New