Homer A. Dorcas 1879-1952

DORCAS, MARTIN, ZUCK, GARDNER

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 4/6/2016 at 07:42:10

3 April 1952 - The Tipton Advertiser

Homer A. Dorcas, 72, Esteemed Cedar Co. Pioneer, is Called

Funeral services will be held on Thursday for Homer A. Dorcas, 72, at 2 o'clock at the Church of the Brethren preceded by prayer service at the family home in Tipton. The body will be taken there from the Chapman funeral home of Clarence Tuesday.

Mr. Dorcas, a life-time resident of Cedar county, was born Dec. 16, 1879, in Red Oak township and died at his home on March 31, 1952. He was the son of Cyrus and Elizabeth Martin Dorcas.

He married Golden A. Zuck on Dec. 21, 1905, in Cedar Rapids, and they farmed southwest of Clarence continuously until they retired to Tipton four years ago.

Surviving, beside his wife, are one son, Byron M. Dorcas, of Tipton, and a sister, Mrs. Edna Gardner, of Stanwood.

Paul Wingerd will officiate at the services and music will be provided by Mrs. Everett Chamberlain and Wm. Naber of Tipton, accompanied by Mrs. Paul Wingerd.

10 April 1952 - The Tipton Advertiser

Homer Alexander Dorcas, only son of the late Cyrus and Elizabeth Dorcas, was born on the Dorcas homestead in Red Oak township, Dec. 16, 1879, and died at his home in Tipton, March 31, 1952, at the age of 72 years, 3 months and 15 days.

He passed the eight grades in the country school near his home, later attending the Tipton high school, from which he graduated in the class of 1897.

On Dec. 21, 1905, he was married to Golden Adah Zuck, daughter of the late Elder John Zuck, by Elder S. B. Miller in Cedar Rapids. They established their new home on the Dorcas homestead, living there continuously until August, 1948, when they retired to their present home in Tipton.

This union was blessed with three children: Byron Martin of Red Oak township; John Cyrus and Ruth Lucile, deceased.

Mr. Dorcas is survived by his wife, Golden, and son Byron; a sister, Mrs. Edna Gardner, of Stanwood, and a niece, Mrs. Merl Carroll, of Galesburg, Ill. He also leaves several cousins and a host of friends.

His interests were well balanced between the church, the home, and the community. In his younger days, he was a regular attendant at the Red Oak Presbyterian church and was its Sunday school secretary-treasurer for many years. Later he joined the Pleasant View Church of the Brethren and was its treasurer for thirty years. He was also clerk for Red Oak township, a director for the White Pigeon Insurance association, and president of the Red Oak Cemetery association. In all these capacities, he was a competent and conscientious servant.

Being of sturdy, Scotch descent, inheriting high ideals, he never relinguished them in these changing times. He was progressive in his attitudes as long as they served the best interests of the home and community. He was outspokenly at odds with waste, extravagance and low morals. He will be missed by the home, church and community.

Being chronicly asthmatic, he never had a robust constitution. Yet he carried on the normal activities of life until two years ago, when he was more seriously afflicted, becoming critical January 2 of this year.

Funeral services were held from the late home and the Pleasant View church, April 3, with Rev. Harold Kratzat, Rev. Paul Wingerd and Elder U. J. Fike participating. Funeral arrangements were in the charge of the Chapman funeral home of Clarence.

Floral tributes and memorial donations were in charge of Mesdames Leo Fisher and Frank Fisher, Jr.

Music was furnished by Mrs. J. E. Chamberlain and Mr. Wm. Naber, Mrs. Paul Wingerd, accompanying.

Organization representations: The class of 1897, Tipton high school, Mrs. Nevin Witmer; White Pigeon Insurance, Mr. J. H. Maurer; Red Oak Cemetery association, Mr. Donald Smith; Clarence Cemetery association, Mrs. George Sylvester.

Casket bearers: Earl Escher, Cyrus Rickard, Ray Challis, Al Stoltenberg, Kenneth Smith, Ernest Bolton.

Interment in Clarence cemetery.