John W. Lerch 1874-1955

LERCH, MARTIN, MCAFEE, ALDRICH, DETTMAN, KETTLER

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 12/15/2016 at 09:25:29

8 December 1955 - The Clarence Sun

John W. Lerch, son of William and Friederka Martin Lerch, was born in Hanover Province, Germany on October 26, 1874, and he departed this life in St. Luke's hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on December 2, 1955 at the mature age of 81 years, 1 month and 6 days.

He was united in marriage to Mary Bell McAfee at Mechanicsville, Iowa on January 25, 1900. Three sons and two daughters were born to this union. The couple observed their Golden Anniversary of their marriage in January, 1950.

Mr. Lerch came to this country in 1886 to Lowden, Iowa. His early married life was spent on a farm near Mechanicsville. He operated a dray line in Stanwood for about 18 years. Upon his retirement, he established his home in Clarence. He moved to Rock Island, Illinois in 1943 which was his home until the time of his death.

Mr. Lerch was a member of The Methodist Church in Stanwood.

Surviving to mourn his passing are his bereaved wife, Mrs. Mary Bell Lerch and his two sons, Emil and Bernard, all of Rock Island, Illinois and his two daughters Mrs. Matt Aldrich of Mt. Vernon, Iowa and Mrs. Lydia Dettman of Rock Island; one brother, Charles Lerch of Waubeek, Iowa and one sister, Mrs. Augusta Kettler of Minneapolis, Minnesota; ten grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother and by one son, Jay Lerch.

Funeral services were conducted in the Chapman Funeral Home in Clarence, Iowa at 1:30 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, December 4, 1955 by the Reverend Forest E. Flowers of the Methodist Church in Clarence. Mrs. Anna Klatt and Mrs. Arthur Claney sang "In the Garden" and "Ivory Palaces" with Mrs. J. B. Lane at the piano. Pallbearers were: Earl Paist, William Ropa and Paul Gadke of Stanwood, Ralph Shriver of Davenport, and Ernest Dewell and Howard Claney of Clarence.

Interment was in St. John's Cemetery east of Clarence, Iowa.