Konzen, Karl J. 1895 - 1932

KONZEN, CONNORS, LEETE, BRUN

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:23

Clayton County Register, Thur., 24 Nov. 1932.

Karl J. Konzen, for nearly 19 years editor and publisher of the Volga City News, died suddenly here in Elkader last week Wednesday evening, following a heart attack, at about 9:45. His death takes from the newspaper circles in this section of the state a young man, just in the prime of life.

To chronicle death is one of the duties of a newspaperman. Yet it is seldom that one is called upon to chronicle the passing of one as highly respected in his home community as Mr. Konzen was. Nearly half of his life was spent in his profession in Volga City.

Mr. Konzen was born in Lawler, Iowa, October 21, 1895, the son of John G. and May (Connors) Konzen. He was indebted to the public schools for his early educational discipline and he had liberal supplemental training from his association with the newspaper profession.

His alliance with the printing and newspaper profession had its inception when he was a lad of 16 years, and from that time until his death he has not wavered in his allegiance thereto.

He established his residence in Volga City in the year 1915, and there he has, through his personality and progressiveness gained leadership in community sentiment and action and also secured a place in popular confidence and good will. He was always a vigorous and effective advocate of the principles of the Democratic party and his joy in the success of the recent campaign was unbounded.

He founded the Volga City News the same year he came to Volga City, starting first in a small way but continually thinking of the future and building his plant and equipment as business warranted.

His newspaper career included labors in New Hampton, Ionia and Rudd. In the latter two places he published newspapers, and it was from Rudd that he went to Volga City.

Though the life of a country newspaperman is always filled Mr. Konzen found time to serve his community as a public servant and these offices held also attested to the esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens. He served his town as city clerk and the township of Sperry as township clerk for many years. During the last nine years he had been an active member of the Volga board of education and his judgement in school matters was respected. He also conducted the Volga branch of the Central State Bank and Trust Co., of this place.

May 26th, 1921, he was united in marriage with Miss Flossie Leete, of Volga, and this relationship was not only of the home but of the business as well for the latter was his most able assistant in the newspaper. Mrs. Konzen, together with the aged mother, Mrs. May Konzen. one brother, Harold, and one sister, Mrs. M. Brun, all of Hampton, Iowa, survive.

Funeral services were held in Sacred Heart church in Volga City Saturday morning at ten o'clock with Father D. P. Cregan officiating. Interment was made in the Catholic cemetery. The active casket-bearers were: C. M. House, of Grinnel, T. C. Hurley of Elma, P. E. Sorg and E. _. Sorg of Independence, T A. Ryan and _. T. Ryan of Volga. Honorary casket-bearers were: Fred Biermann of Decorah, Otto Fuelling of Farmersburg, Frank and Fred Huebsch of McGregor, Otto Germar and Lou Kottman of Volga.

Mr. Konzen's interest in printing, and for that matter all community enterprises, did not cease with his labors in his newspaper. He gave freely of his time to every activity he considered worthy and for the best interests of his community. When death overtook him here in Elkader he had just left a democratic meeting which had been held in the court room.

He will be sorely missed, not only by his immediate family, but by his large circle of friends and acquaintances as well. He lived a good life and the sincere wish of all is that he will rest in peace.