Fitzpatrick, James Francis 1895 - 1934

FITZPATRICK, WESTFALL, FOLEY

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:25

Clayton County Register, Thur., 26 July 1934.

Funeral services were held Friday forenoon for James F. Fitzpatrick, who died at his home here last Tuesday evening at eleven o'clock at the age of 39 years, five months and seven days.

James Francis Fitzpatrick was born here in Elkader on February 10, 1895, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Fitzpatrick. He received his education in the local parochial school, completing eight grades there, after which he attended the Elkader High school, to finish there with the class of 1914.

Some time after his graduation from the local high school Mr. Fitzpatrick entered the clothing business with his brother, E. C. Fitzpatrick, which the two continued until the business was disposed of to Earl B. Becker.

Since that time Mr. Fitzpatrick has conducted a general insurance business, and since 1929 he has served as special representative of th New York Life Insurance Co., for whom he developed a valuable agency here.

The deceased was unusually active in community affairs and ever ready to help in any project for advancement of his native community. He was a member of the local post of the American Legion and one of the original organizers of the local drum and bugle corps. At the time of his death he was adjutant of both the Legion and drum corps. He was a devout member of St. Joseph's Catholic church and for a number of years a member of the church choir. In fraternal circles he was actively connected with the local council of Knight of Columbus and the local camp of the Catholic Order of Foresters.

His interest in the work of the Boy Scouts was second only to that of the Legion and its drum corps, for he was a sponsor of one of the patrols of the local troop. Many of the boys of his patrol considered him practically as a "pal."

In these circles he will be missed, not only for his active concern, but for his good-fellowship and witty disposition.

April 23, 1919, he was united in marriage with Miss Helen Westfall of Hartley, Iowa, who previous to that time had been a teacher in the local graded school. She, together with one son, James, and one daughter, Marjorie, survive. Other relatives who mourn his passing are one brother, E. C. Fitzpatrick of this place; three sisters, Mrs. Tom Foley (Mayme) of Portland, Ore.; Sister Annuncita (Ella) of Dallas, Tex.; and Sister Agatha (Kathryn) of Oakland, Calif.

During the World War Mr. Fitzpatrick saw service with Chesapeake Bay Company No. 3 of the coast artillery, from which he received his honorable discharge at the close of the war.

Friends and acquaintances from all over the county were here Friday to pay final tribute to a true friend whose death in early manhood has cast a shadow of sorrow over many a home.

Services at St. Joseph's church were conducted by the Very Rev. Father J. P. Taken, who read the High Requiem Mass, assisted in sacristy by the Rev. Father Goetzinger of Garber. The body was accompanied by an escort of Legionaires from various posts of the county, and at the church was met by the Boy Scouts. Both organizations then accompanied the body to St. Joseph's cemetery, where the Rev. Father Goetzinger held short services and the body was laid to rest with military honors, including the final salute and taps.

Honorary pallbearers were: E. W. Hahn, Roy Combs, Mike Eisched, Dr. R. L. Morse, Leo Boland, all of this place, and Harvey Haltmeyer, of McGregor. Active pallbearers, all ex-service men, were: Norbert Niemeyer, Roy Hyde, George Schmidt, George Behn, Lyle Barthell and John Maley.

(Note: This was followed by a long list of those attending the funeral from a distance but whose relationship to the deceased was not specified, and were left non-transcribed here.)