KENNETH J. KERR 1896-1961

DODGE, KERR, TURNER, LIVINGOOD, AYERS, MEYERHOFF, EVANS, BENSON

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 9/23/2004 at 19:13:45

KENNETH J. KERR 1896-1961

Services Held For Kenneth Kerr, Prominent Farmer

Kenneth J. Kerr, son of Charles and Annie Dodge Kerr, was born October 10, 1896, on a farm two and one-half miles southwest of Postville in Fayette county. The farm has been in the family since 1851. It was homesteaded from the government by Mr. Kerr's forefathers. Kenneth Kerr spent his entire life on this farm.

He passed away January 18, 1961 at the Postville Community Hospital.

Kenneth Kerr enlisted in the United States Army from Ames, for a period of two years during World War I. Most of this time was spent in France during the war. He also served in the Army of Occupation until 1919 when he came home and took up farming with his father on the home place.

On October 20, 1926 Kenneth Kerr was married to Joyce Turner at Postville.

Kenneth Kerr was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Helen; and two brothers, George and Malcolm.

Surviving are his wife; four daughters, Mrs. Gilbert Livingood (Dorothy) of Postville, Mrs. Roger Ayers (Marjorie), of Montezuma, Mrs. Willard Meyerhoff (Geraldine) of Waterloo, Mrs. Roy Evans (Peggy) of Sherman Oaks, California; two sons, C. Keith Kerr and Donald Kerr, both of Postville; one sister, Mrs. Kate Benson of State Center; 13 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Kenneth Kerr was a member of the American Legion for 41 years, held membership in the Farm Bureau for 35 years. At the time of his death he was township trustee and until January 1, 1961, County Holstein president, director of the State Holstein Association and director of Dairy Improvement Association. He was past-president of Postville Creamery, former county president of Soil Commissioners, which he helped to organize in 1936. The Holstein-Friesian Association of America awarded him the Progressive Breeders' Award for the years 1954, 1955, 1958 and 1959. In order to qualify as a Progressive Breeder he had to produce butterfat above the breed average, must have bred and raised 90 percent of his herd, and must have scored over 81 per cent on herd classification.

Kenneth Kerr had served as an elder in the Community Presbyterian Church of which he was a member.

Funeral services were held at the Community Presbyterian Church, Friday, January 20, at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Walter T. Martin in charge of the rites. Burial was in the Postville cemetery. The American Legion conducted military services at the grave.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.

Submitter not related -- posted for benefit of others.