William Alexander Kerr 1875-1963

KERR, BLISS, DOURTE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/20/2010 at 20:05:01

Kerr Rites To Be Held on Monday
William A. Kerr, 87, a longtime Estherville resident and former city councilman and fire chief, died at 6:30 p.m. yesterday at Good Samaritan Home of complications of advanced age. He had lived at Good Samaritan for the past 15 months and had been in failing health for the last year.

William Alexander Kerr was born April 12, 1875 near Waterloo and was educated in the Waterloo schools. He was married July 25, 1900 to Lotta Bliss at Algona.

The Kerrs moved to Estherville in 1907 when Mr. Kerr became manager of the Sperbeck-Lambert Creamery. He later was a creamery supply salesman until his retirement.

Mr. Kerr was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Consistory and received his 50-year Masonic pin last year.

Survivors include one son, William of Estherville; one grandson, Dr. William Kerr of the University of Illinois faculty at Champaign; one great-granddaughter, Lori Kerr of Champaign and one sister, Mrs. Grant Dourte of Swea City.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 1950, one brother and two sisters.

Funeral service will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at Sternborg-Reese Funeral Chapel with the Rev. William R. Novund officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at Sternborg-Reese Funeral Home of 9 a.m. Sunday until time of service Monday. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, January 19, 1963)