George J. Kaiser

KAISER, WIRKLER, GRAENING

Posted By: Debbie Clough Gerischer (email)
Date: 6/6/2007 at 20:35:59

GEORGE J. KAISER is a native of Iowa, was born and grew up on a farm, and from his early years was trained in the habits of industry. His father was not only an industrious and capable farmer but a high minded man, strictly honest and honorable in all his relations, and the influences of the home in which he grew up have been important factors throughout the career of George J. Kaiser.

Mr. Kaiser was born near the little town of National in Clayton County, Iowa, February 22, 1882, son of Herman H. and Pauline (Wirkler) Kaiser. His father was born in Hanover, Germany, and was brought to Iowa during his infancy. Pauline Wirkler was born on an English vessel while on its way to America. Both families settled in Clayton County. Herman H. Kaiser, who died in 1920, was a generous supporter of community undertakings, served on local boards, as a township officer, was active in the Lutheran Church and a Republican, though frequently voting for the man rather than the party. He died in 1920. His widow now lives in Monona. There were eight children in the family, four sons and four daughters. The sons are: Herman, in the nursery business at Cedar Falls; George J.; Harvey, in the coal business at Minneapolis; and Elmer, who lives with his mother.

George J. Kaiser had his first school advantages in the pioneer district school near the home farm. Later he attended the Epworth Seminary near Dubuque and finished his education in Beloit College of Wisconsin. For two terms he taught in the pioneer district where he had learned his first lessons. Before he was twenty-one he was in business for himself at Monona. Mr. Kaiser took the work of the U. S. School of Embalming at Chicago. In 1914 he moved from Monona to Waverly, where he is proprietor of a beautiful funeral home, and
in addition to his profession as a general funeral director is a furniture merchant. He has supplied Waverly with a high class service, all of his equipment being of the most modern type. Mr. Kaiser is president of the Credit Men's Association and was the first president of the Waverly Rotary Club. He has given much of his time to civic and welfare work. During the World war he acted as secretary of the Lutheran Brotherhood of America, with headquarters in Des Moines.

Mr. Kaiser married Elizabeth Graening, daughter of Rev. J. Graening. She was educated in the Breckenridge School at Decorah, Iowa, and before her marriage was assistant cashier of the Monona Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser have a daughter, Alida, who is an A. B. graduate of Carthage College of Illinois.

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~A Narrative History of The People of Iowa
with SPECIAL TREATMENT OF THEIR CHIEF ENTERPRISES IN EDUCATION, RELIGION, VALOR, INDUSTRY, BUSINESS, ETC. by EDGAR RUBEY HARLAN, LL. B., A. M. Curator of the Historical, Memorial and Art Department of Iowa Volume IV THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc. Chicago and New York; 1931

~transcribed by Debbie Clough Gerischer for the Iowa History IAGenWeb Special Project, and posted to Clayton co. IAGenWeb with her permission.

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