George Oliver Berhenke

BERHENKE-BECRAFT SITE

My Grandfather

My Grandfather was an unusual Man,

Always ready to lend somebody a hand.

He was a friend to everyone,

and a stranger to none.

When he put his mind to it,

Anything could be done.

While raising his eleven children,

he was a very strict man.

But with that many kids,

he needed the upper hand.

He was a carpenter by trade,

and a boxer for ten years.

When I think of all he did in his life,

It brings me to tears.

My Grandfather's bark was worst then his bite,

But if you crossed him be ready for a fight.

He worked very hard all of his life,

Because he loved his children,

and his wonderful wife.

Some thought that grandpa was a mean man.

But I know grandpa, also had a very gentle hand.

After his children were raised, he became very mellow.

Yes my Grandfather was an unusual fellow.

George Oliver's Life

George was the youngest child born to Ernst and Eva he was born March 29 1905 in Georgetown Price County Wisconsin. He was just about 13 months old when his father died he had Several stepfathers following his fathers death. Thomas Cork the father of George's half brother Theodore Thomas Cork, Charles Franklin Vant, father of George's half sister Lillian Grace Vant. And after the death of Charles in 1912 his mother married a Mr. Fortney around 1913 they were located in Indiana for awhile finally relocating to Rock Island Illinois. Sometime around 1921 she married a John Franklin Dennison, Who brought 3 children to that marriage from his first wife. On October 16 1924.

George married the love of his life Dorothy Beintema, whom he met at a roller skating rink, where he worked as a young man as Floor Manager. She dropped her purse and he picked it up for her. And they soon started dating George never had much of an education all he knew was how to write his name he couldn't read at all, but he could read a ruler he said. "He learned to do math by throwing dice" And he knew how to work, and worked hard all his life.

He had a lot of jobs over the years supporting his family.

Cutting Pulp Wood in Wisconsin.

Working in Coal Mines.

Digging Wells, 2&92 Junk Yard, he also worked in Factories, and Saw Mills.

He did Contractor work building houses.

He built several of the houses they lived in over the years.

Including a log cabin in Eagle River Wisconsin, Ginger Hill in Milan Illinois and Country Courts Addition Moline Illinois were they lived until their deaths.

George enjoyed drinking on weekends, and he would often bet men in bars that he could drive a nail through a board with his bare hand. They never believed him and would take the bet, so he would put a 16 penny nail in the palm of his hand and punch it through a 1 inch board and win the bet. George also enjoyed driving in races with Model T's he rode Harley Davidson Motor Cycles with what was called a suicide clutch in motor domes at Carnivals,

He Even boxed in the Golden Gloves for 10 Years.

He retired in 1970 and his health started failing, He was the father of 11 children Grandfather to about 50 and Great Grandfather to many. He died at his home in Country Courts Addition Moline Illinois on May 11 1981 of Carcinoma of the Lungs. He was layed to rest at Green view Memorial Gardens in East Moline Illinois.

Created By: Tammi Jo Lisius