Guy Matthew "Matt" Donovan 1892-1960

DONOVAN, KENNEDY, HAMILTON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/16/2011 at 23:50:47

Longtime Estherville Businessman Dies
Guy Matthew (Matt) Donovan, 68, well-known, longtime businessman of Estherville, died Sunday at 1:30 a.m. at the Holy Family Hospital of a heart condition. Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock at St. Patrick’s Church, the Rev. James H. Duhigg officiating. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. The Sandin-Fuhrman Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. The body will lie in state at the Donovan home, 509 N. 7th St. and friends may call there until time of services. Rosary will be recited at the Donovan home Monday evening at 8 o’clock. Military services will be conducted by the American Legion and VFW Posts.

Active pallbearers will be Frank Fuss, W. J. Spaulding, Harold Hageman, Clifford Nicol, Cliff Merrill, all employees of Donovan Motors, Estherville, and Donald Engstrom, operator of the Donovan farm near Emmetsburg. Honorary pallbearers are Dennis Knudson, Spirit Lake; Delmar Ankeny, Emmetsburg; H. C. Albee, Frank Meade, Dr. D. E. Wolters, George Calhan, E. G. Stavros, Earl Bagan, Harold Moklestad, all of Estherville, and D. A. Fitzgibbons of Armstrong.

Preceding him in death were his parents, four brothers and one sister.

Survivors include his widow; one son, Edwin of Estherville, two daughters, Mrs. William Hamilton (Maxine) of Estherville and Mary Kay Donovan of New York City; nine grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. One brother, Edward of Rolling Hills Estate, Calif., also survives.

Mr. Donovan was born May 15, 1892, in Emmetsburg. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Donovan. He received his education in the Emmetsburg schools. Following graduation from Emmetsburg High School, he attended the Business College at Davenport and a Telegraphy School at Minneapolis. He enlisted in the Army Infantry Signal Corp and served overseas during World War I.

Following his return from service, he was married to Kathryn Kennedy, June 19, 1919, in Estherville. He was associated with the Walker Motor Company, Estherville, until 1922 at which time he became the Hudson and Essex dealer. In 1934 he became the Plymouth, Chrysler and Dodge dealer. In 1958 Mr. Donovan retired, turning his business over to his son, Edwin.

He was a member of St. Patrick’s Church, a charter member of VFW, charter member of the American Legion, charter member of Veterans of World War I, a member of the Elks lodge and the Knights of Columbus. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, September 19, 1960)