William Jame McIlveen 1871-1916

MCILVEEN, JENSEN, KEMLER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/14/2012 at 00:16:37

Death Removes a Good Citizen
After Years of Suffering, W.J. McIlveen Passes to His Rest Eternal
End Came on Friday Evening [July 21, 1916]
Funeral Services Were Largely Attended, and Were in Charge of the Elks Lodge
After two years of pain and suffering from cancer of the mouth, our fellow townsman and city councilman, William James McIlveen, passed away at his home on North Fourth street, on last Friday evening. Mr. McIlveen has undergone the greatest pain and has suffered intensely. Through it all he has borne up with a bravery that has been wonderful. Never a complaint, and at all times looking at the bright side of every incident, and from all outward appearances seeming to take his illness as a matter of natural consequence. His lot has been a hard one throughout, but he has borne it all, knowing what the end would be.

Mr. McIlveen has a large acquaintance here and his friends are numbered by the list of his acquaintances. He has been in close touch with the business interest of the city, having served in the capacity of station agent and ticket agent here for a period of ten years. Some five years ago he accepted a position as bookkeeper with the firm of Greig & Zeeman and held that position up to the time of his death. He was forty-five years of age on July 4th. Was born in New York City, N.Y., and moved at an early age to Minnesota, where he resided until coming to this city. He was united in marriage to Miss Emma Jensen, at Forest City eighteen years ago, and to this union there were four boys born, LeRoy, Carroll, Kenneth, and Lloyd, all of whom are living at the parental home.

The funeral services were held from the Christian church on Sunday afternoon, the Rev. Coffin officiating. The services at the last resting place of the deceased were under the auspices of the Elks Lodge, the only order of which he was a member.

A sister, Mrs. J.C. Kemler, of Cedar Rapids, and two brothers of the wife, Joseph Jensen of St. Paul, and Geo. Jensen, of Fort Dodge, were here attending the funeral services. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, July 26, 1916)

Death of W.J. McIlveen
First Ward Councilman Dies of Cancer Friday Night
After an illness of nearly one year, W.J. McIlveen died at the City hospital in this city Friday evening about ten o’clock of a cancer of the face.

William James McIlveen was born in New York City July 4, 1871, and died at Estherville, Iowa, July 21, 1916, at the age of 45 years and 17 days. When a small boy he went with his parents from New York to Minnesota where he lived until moving to Estherville fifteen years ago. He was employed at the Rock Island offices and was also in the employ of Grieg & Zeeman for five years. He was always a faithful, conscientious worker discharging willingly the duties assigned to him in the various places where he worked.

On June 1, 1898, the deceased married Miss Emma Jensen. Four sons were born to bless this union: LeRoy, Carroll, Kenneth and Loyd. Besides his wife and sons left to mourn a good father’s demise are a sister and two brothers.

Funeral was held from the Christian church Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock conducted by Rev. J.S. Coffin. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, July 26, 1916)