George E. Howe 1873-1941

HOWE, ALLETT, MORRISON, BRANDT, BRAND

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 4/4/2011 at 20:02:43

George Howe, a retired Rock Island conductor well known in Cedar Rapids, passed away at his home in Estherville last Sunday [Monday]. (Cedar Rapids Tribune, Cedar Rapids, IA, March 27, 1941)

Geo. Howe, Retired R. I. Conductor Died Monday
George Howe, 63, retired Rock Island conductor died at 6:10 p.m. Monday [March 24, 1941]. He had taken ill with a hemorrhage caused from high blood pressure last Thursday and his condition had been serious since this attack.

Mr. Howe, well and favorably known here, and at other Rock Island points, is survived by his wife and one sister, Mrs. Tom Brandt of Cedar Rapids.

Funeral arrangements have not been made. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, March 25, 1941)

George Howe Rites Were Held This (Thursday) Afternoon
The B.P.O. Elks were in charge of the last rites for George Howe held Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock at the Elks home. The Rev. G. E. Forssell was in charge of the services, assisted by Rev. Fred Sawyer. Burial was in the Oak Hill cemetery. The body was taken to the Elks lodge this morning where it laid in state until the services were conducted this afternoon.

Pallbearers were Carl Skog, C. V. Kilgore, M. C. Petersen, Otto Spande, W. V. Sweet and Frank Fuss. In charge of the elks services at the lodge were Cliff Hedrick, Harold Reed, Jesse Cox, Walter Schultz, C. V. Kilgore, Jack White and C.F. Smith.

Mr. Howe passed away at his home on north Seventh street Monday evening following a few days illness. Although he had been in poor health for several years he was able to be up and around until last Thursday when he was taken seriously ill.

He was born in Ackley, Iowa, March 11, 1873 and when a young boy he moved to Estherville with his parents and has made his home here ever since. On February 10, 1906 he began his work in the freight division of the Rock Island serving that company faithfully for over thirty years. He was pensioned because of disability on March 18, 1938 but his last trip was made on December 3, 1937 from Iowa Falls to Estherville.

On December 16, 1915, he and Mrs. Howe were married at Iowa Falls. They have continued to make Estherville their home and last year celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

Mr. Howe was a man who made friends wherever he went and was one of the most popular employees on this division of the railroad. Since his retirement he has taken an active interest in the social and political life of the community. He was especially interested in the Elks lodge, having been a member of that organization for a number of years. He was always ready with a word of encouragement and good cheer for his fellow men and his genial personality made him a friend of everyone, old or young, rich and poor.

Besides his widow, Mr. Howe is survived by one sister, Mrs. Thomas Brandt, of Cedar Rapids. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, March 27, 1941)

Note: George Howe’s 1st and 2nd wives were Tillie Allett and Pearl Morrison