Ernest R. Prior 1882-1950

PRIOR, DONAHUE, STEELE, BERGIN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/27/2012 at 21:19:21

Ernest Prior, 67, Rock Island (Railroad) fireman from Estherville, died about midnight Saturday in University hospitals, Iowa City. Death was attributed to a cancerous abcess of the left lung. He had been hospitalized at Iowa City since Dec. 16.

Prior was born April 4, 1882 [per WWI Draft Record, 1883], at Lancaster, Pa., and moved at an early age to Sioux Falls. On his birthday in 1915, he was married in Mason City [to Laura May Burgin], and the Priors lived for 11 years in Milford before moving to Estherville where they lived until his death Saturday.

The deceased was old enough for retirement from Rock Island service, but he had continued working until ill health forced his hospitalization. In addition to his railroad work, he also had served as janitor at the Baptist church for the past 12 years. The Baptist church was his church of preference.

Survivors include his wife, three daughters, Mrs. Vincent Donahue of Emmetsburg, Mrs. Vernon Steele of Waterloo and Jo Ann Prior of Estherville, and one son, John Prior of Fairmont, and a sister, Mrs. John Bergin of Spencer.

Services will be held 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Estherville Baptist church, Rev. G. E. Forssell officiating. Burial will be in Eastside cemetery. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, January 16, 1950)