Obituary

  The badly burned body of Henry DeBlock, 69, of Preemption was found Thursday morning about 200 feet from the small house in which he lived alone.
  The body was discovered by two Preemption youths, Dean Baker, 17, and Richard Huffstedtler, 10, who were returning from hunting nearby. They reported the discovery to a neighbor, Mrs. Frank Claeys, who notified authorities.
  Mrs. Claeys told Mercer Sheriff Bill Albertson she had seen DeBlock burning rubbish and weeds on Tuesday and Wednesday. This apparently was the last that had been seen of him until his body was discovered, Albertson said.
A large burnt-out rubbish pile was a short distance from the body and grass in the area surrounding had been burned. Coroner Luther Davis ordered an autopsy performed to determine cause of death.
  Martin Laboratories of Moline, after an autopsy performed in the Crummy Funeral Home, Viola, by Dr. Lowell Martin, reported death came to DeBlock from a heart attack and that fire reached the body only after his death. The time of death was presumed to be Tuesday.
  Mr. DeBlock was born in Holland and, coming to the United States 50 years ago, he settled in Preemption, where he lived ever since. He worked for a time as a bridge carpenter for a section crew on the Rock Island railroad, but was retired at the time of his death. Mr. DeBlock, who never married, was of Catholic faith.
  He is survived by a brother, John of Viola, and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Natalie DeBlock; a brother Joe, who resided in Sherrard; and another brother in Holland.
Funeral services were held at 9 a. m. Saturday, Nov. 30, 1957, at the Crummy Funeral Home, Viola, and burial was made in St. Joseph cemetery, Preemption.
  Rev. C. M. Meyer of Aledo, pastor of St. John's Catholic church, Viola, officiated at the funeral services. Miss Anna McCardle, Matherville, was organist. Pallbearers were: John Myers, Warren Myers, Edward DeBlock, Morris DeBlock, Kenneth Janssen, and Albert Janssen.
(Aledo Times Record, Wednesday, December 4, 1957, Sect. 3, p. 1)