Wilfred T. Jurjens

He was born June 18, 1930, the son of the late Mello and Anita (Haynes) Jurjens. He lived his entire life on the family farm on Route 28 in Meredith.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by brothers Mello, jr. and wife Elva (Dibble), Lester and wife Mae (Townsend), sister Dolores and her husband Frank (Stoesser), and son-in-law Richard S. Bell.

Wilfred (Willie) is survived by wife Viola (Giudice) Jurjens, sons Paul and Jim, and daughter Gina Bell. He’s also survived by grandsons Ryan Bell, Nathan Bell, his wife Melinda, and great granddaughters Cassidy and Violet. Also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Willie worked at Kiff’s and Agway for 35 years, delivering feed to the many dairy farms in the area.

He was the secret Santa of our childhood. For 20 years the children of the Town of Meredith looked forward to Santa’s visit, on Christmas Eve, delivering bags of fruits and nuts and naming off all of his reindeer.

Willie was well known as the local historian of Meridale Farms.

He traveled far and wide locating former employees and their relatives, to get as much information as could be found about life on Meridale Farms in the 1930s and ‘40s. He shared those finds every year at the Meredith Dairy Fest.

Willie was a great storyteller! He wrote a book, “The Thing of It“, sharing stories of the days of old.

Willie was one of a kind. A happy man that loved people and never met a stranger. He loved to travel, camping across America, telling anybody that would listen about his beloved Delaware County and of his Woodside Jersey Farm.

He loved to laugh and sing and dance and whistle. He welcomed all into his life, and was loved by many.

Arrangements are by the Kenneth L. Bennett Funeral Home of Franklin.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bennettfh.com for the Jurjens family.