Charles Homer "Homer" Christ 1900-1950

CHRIST, LARSON, SCHOENING, PETERSON, MEADS, STRONG

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 5/6/2012 at 23:30:42

Homer Christ Dies
Friends here extend sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Christ at the death of his brother Homer Christ o Estherville. He passed away Sunday [April 2, 1950] evening at his home in Estherville after a lingering illness from Cancer.

Funeral services were held Wednesday at the Methodist Church in Estherville. He leaves his wife and three children. (Spirit Lake Beacon, Spirit Lake, IA, April 6, 1950)

Homer Christ Overcame Big Handicap
Charles Homer Christ, 50, veteran Rock Island railroad employee, died April 2, at the Christ home, of cancer of the bronchial tubes. He was born Jan 31, 1900 on a farm near Terril, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Christ.

Part of his boyhood was spent on the farm near Terril where he started his education, and he later moved to a farm north of Superior. At eight years of age, he contracted infantile paralysis, but he later overcame the handicap and for many years played first base on a North Superior baseball team. In Superior he joined the Methodist church and later transferred membership to Estherville.

After completing his education he worked on his father’s farm and in June, 1921, was married to Iva Larson, after which he moved to Estherville. In Estherville he worked for the Rock Island railroad, and except for a few years spent in Worthington employed in a hardware store, he continued working for the railroad until the time of his death when he held the position of engineer.

November 24, 1931, he was married a second time to Hertha Verna Schoening and the couple made its home in Estherville until his death.

He was stricken in January with virus pneumonia and later hospitalized but within 10 days returned home. March 20 he was taken to University hospitals, Iowa City, when he did not respond properly to treatment.

Examinations at Iowa City showed he had a malignant tumor of the lungs and cancer of the bronchial tubes. In accordance with his wishes he was returned home and spent his remaining days with his family.

Survivors include two daughter by his first wife, Mrs. Arnold Meads of Bemidji, Minn., and Mrs. Berkley Strong of Estherville; and three children at home, Mary, Charles Homer, jr., and Janet Marie; his mother, Mrs. Clara Christ of Spencer; a sister, Mrs. Malvin Peterson of Estherville, four grandchildren, 19 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles, of Spencer, and a sister, Clara Belle, who died in infancy.

Services were held April 5, at Sternborg Funeral chapel and at 2:30 at the Estherville Methodist church, the Rev. John E. DeLong officiating. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, April 10 1950)