George Lewis Vestrem 1889-1951

VESTREM, JOHNSON, SCHOOLEY, OSMUNDSON, OSMUNDSEN, MALCHAR, EGGLESTON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/11/2010 at 18:51:00

Longtime Resident of City Dies
George Vestrem Succumbs at Home

George Vestrem, 61, Rock Island railroad conductor and longtime Estherville resident, died last night at 7:10 at his home in Estherville. Death was caused by a coronary occlusion. Vestrem had suffered a heart attack several years ago, but had been in fair health until about three weeks ago.

He was born Nov. 5, 1889, in Emmetsburg, and came to Estherville in 1901 with his parents. He received his education in the Estherville public school system; and after graduation from high school here, attended a business college then operating in Estherville.

After completing his education, he started working for the Rock Island lines in Estherville, and on June 23, 1915, he was married at Sibley to Grace Mae Johnson of Round Lake, Minn. The couple has lived both in Sibley and in Estherville, and in 1933, moved to Estherville where the Vestrems have made their home ever since. He was conductor with the Rock Island road, both freight and passenger, for more than 30 years.

He was a member of the Presbyterian church in Estherville and also belonged to several Masonic bodies, North Star Lodge number 447, AF and AM; White Shrine, Eastern Star, Royal Arch Masons and Knights Templar.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Dean Vestrem and Charles Vestrem, both of Spencer; one daughter, Mrs. A. H. Schooley (Muriel) of Washington, D.C.; four grandchildren; and five brothers and sisters: Mrs. Hattie Osmundsen of Estherville, Mrs. Maye Eggleston of Worthington, O.W. Vestrem of Garden City, Wis., and Mrs. George Malchar (Lena) of Cedar Rapids.

Services have been postponed pending the arrival of Mrs. Schooley from Washington. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, March 14, 1951)

George Vestrem Was Conductor on Rock Island
Mr. George Lewis Vestrem was 61 years of age when he died. He was born Nov. 5, 1889, at Emmetsburg. Mr. Vestrem came to Estherville with his parents in 1901 and received his education in the Estherville public schools. He later attended the business college here.

Mr. Vestrem began work with the Rock Island railroad Dec. 27, 1910, and qualified for conductor Jan. 1, 1924.

He married Grace Mae Johnson of Ocheyedan June 23, 1915, at Sibley.

Mr. Vestrem was a member of the First Presbyterian church of Estherville, the North Star Lodge No. 447 AF and AM, of the White Shrine and the Eastern Star. He was a member of the Royal Arch Masons and the Knights Templar.

Mr. Vestrem is survived by his wife, Grace, two sons, Charles and Dean Vestrem, and one daughter, Murial Schooley of Washington, D.C. There are four grandchildren, Jody Lea, and Rosemary Lee Vestrem, Robert, Allan, Jean Susan Schooley. Mr. Vestrem is survived by Mrs. Hattie Osmundson of Estherville, Mrs. May Eggleston, Worthington, Minn.; Edward Vestrem, Worthington; Oscar W. Vestrem of Berlin, Wis., and Mrs. George Melchar of Cedar Rapids, all brothers and sisters. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, March 21, 1951)