Arsene Gerard (1859-1933)

GERARD, TIMMERMAN, WALLACE

Posted By: Carl Malone (email)
Date: 6/20/2017 at 10:20:34

Adams County Free Press
Corning, Iowa
August 10, 1933

OBITUARY

The death of Arsene Gerard, which occurred July 26, at 10 p.m. at his home near Nodaway, brought grief to a large circle of relatives and friends who have known him during the years of a long useful life spent almost entirely in Adams county. Funeral services were held from the Federated church at 10 a. m. Saturday morning, conducted by the Rev. Howard Congdon. Interment was made in Walnut Grove cemetery in the Gerard lot beside his father and mother.

Arsene Gerard, second son of J. B. and Theodorine Gerard, was born at Nauvoo, Illinois, December 5, 1859. He came to Iowa with his parents when a child and lived four miles east of Corning near the Icarian Community, until he was married to Miss Belle Timmerman, February 28, 1898. After his marriage he resided on one of the Gerard farms east of town until March 1902, when he bought a farm and moved five miles south of Nodaway, which was his home at the time of his death. Two daughters were born to this union, Miss Melva Gerard of Chicago, and Mrs. William Wallace of Omaha, Neb. His daughter, Mrs. Wallace, and her husband and his brother, Felix Gerard, were at his bedside when he passed away. Miss Melva was unable to reach him until after his death. Mr. Gerard was 73 years 7 months and 21 days old at the time of his death.

There were eight boys and no girls in the Gerard family, and at the time the family left Nauvoo, Ill., the father, J. B. Gerard was president of the Icarian Community, which traveled to Iowa and settled with the Icarian people here. Later this connection was severed and the family moved on a farm of their own. Three brothers, A. J., William and Charles, and his parents preceded him in death. He is survived by his two daughters and four brothers. The brothers are Fred, of Fontanelle; P. A. of Nevada, Mo.; F. E. of Corning, Iowa, and T. A. of Kennebec, South Dakota. He is also survived by one grandson and other relatives, and many friends who grieve with the family in the loss of a loved one.