Farrell, John 1912-1944

FARRELL, STONE, KRAUS, CONNERY, CONREY, EAGER

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 6/9/2014 at 23:09:15

Volga City, Ia. - Mr. and Mrs. Edward Farrell received word Sunday night that their oldest son, Pvt. John Farrell, 31, was killed in action in Italy on May 24. His wife, the former Lydia Stone, of Reinbeck, resides at Charles City, where the couple had established a home prior to his entry into the service. He was employed at the Oliver tractor plant there.

He served with the U.S. Infantry and had been in Italy several months.

Besides his wife and parents, he is survived by two brothers, Edward, with the U.S. Army in England, Joseph, of Charles City, and seven sisters: Mrs. Mildred Kraus, Elkader, Mrs. Mae Connery, Mason City, Lucille Farrell, seaman first class, in the WAVES, stationed in Washington, D.C., and Marion, Calista, Irene and Patricia, at home in Volga City.

Pvt. Farrell was inducted into the service in the late summer of 1943.

~Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, Wednesday evening edition, June 14, 1944

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VOLGA: Memorial services for Pvt. John Farrell, who was reported killed in action last week, were held at Charles City Monday. Solemn requiem high mass was offered for the repose of his soul at 10 a.m. in the Immaculate Conception church. Officers of the mass were the Very Rev. Thomas J. Rooney, celebrant, the Rev. R. O'Brien, deacon, and the Rev. W. Michael, sub-deacon.

The Rev. O'Brien, assistant pastor, delivered the memorial sermon and paid tribute to Private Farrell who was a personal friend of Rev. O'Brien.

Military honors were in charge of the Marshall A. Shannon Post of the American Legion with firing squad, bugler color bearers, color guards and members of the armed forces in the services of the United States. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the flag was presented to the widow, Mrs. John Farrell.

Pvt. John Farrell, oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Farrell of Volga, was born Nov. 7, 1912, on a farm near Elkader. He attended the rural schools a number of years. At the age of 16, he went to Mitchell, S.D., where he made his home with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Z.H. Eager. He graduated from high school in Mitchell in 1930.

In 1935, he returned to his parent's home in Volga and shortly afterward entered the employment of the Oliver Tractor company at Charles City, where he remained until his induction into the army July 24, 1943.

He was married Aug. 23, 1937, to Miss Lydia Stone of Reinbeck at the Sacred Heart church. The late Rev. D.P. Cregan performed the ceremony and read the nuptial mass. They established their home in Charles City until he went into training at Camp Wolters, Texas.

After a brief furlough he entered Fort Meade, Md., and left for overseas Feb. 21, 1944, landing somewhere near Naples, March 19. He met his death on May 24, somewhere near Rome, Italy, where he was stationed.

Surviving besides his wife and parents are two brothers, Cpl. Edward Farrell in England, and Joseph of Charles City, and seven sisters, Mrs. Mildren Kraus, Elkader; Mrs. Mae Conrey, Mason City; Lucille of Washington, D.C.; Calista, Waterloo; Marian, Elkader; Irene and Patricia at home.

Private Farrell was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Relatives who were present at the last rites were: Mrs. Ed. Farrell, Irene and Patricia, Volga; Mr. and Mrs. Cy Kraus, Marion Farrell, Julia Farrell, Frank Farrell and son James, Elkader; Mr. and Mrs. Clint Conrey, Mason City; Lucille Farrell, S 1/c, Washington, D.C.; Calista Farrell, Waterloo; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Farrell, Charles City; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Ecker, West Union; Mrs. Estella Eager, Mitchell, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Jay Stone, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Stephan and sons, Mrs. Leron Stone, Lila Mae Stone, Willard Larrabee, all of Reinbeck; Mr. and Mrs. Fay Stone and Ruth, Mrs. Harold Stone and Elaine, Fredericksburg; Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Underwood and sons, Waterloo; Mr. and Mrs. Roethler, New Hampton; Michael Lynch, Grundy Center; Clarence Nemen, Minneapolis, Minn.

~Clayton County Register, Thursday, June 22, 1944; pg 1 & 8

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Note: He is buried in Italy. He has a cenotaph in Calgary Cemetery, Charles City, Floyd co. Iowa. Also on the gravestone is the inscription of his wife Lydia Evelyn Farrell Notton