John Martin Kiefer 1879-1942

KIEFER, BAGAN, HOFFMAN, OSMUNDSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 6/18/2013 at 01:17:35

John M. Kiefer Dies; Funeral To Be Monday
Stroke Fatal at Home Yesterday
John Martin Kiefer died of a stroke at 3 p.m. yesterday at his home. He had been in poor health for the last two years, but had felt well enough that morning to make two trips down town.

Mr. Kiefer was born in Rose Creek, Minn. in 1879 [per cemetery record, 1878] and went to school there and in Austin, Minn.

Married in 1916
In 1916 he was married to Rose Bagan in Albert Lea, Minn. The couple resided in Estherville following the wedding, where Mr. Kiefer worked as a fireman and engineer for the Rock Island railroad. He retired from his position two years ago because of his health.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and belonged to St. Patrick’s Catholic church.

Five Children
He is survived by his widow; three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Hoffman of Fort Dodge, Mrs. Marcelia Osmundson of Estherville, Miss Helen Kiefer, who is in nurse’s training in Mason City; and by two sons, Raymond, who is in the navy at Urbana, Ill., and John Edward at home. He also has seven brothers and sisters surviving.

Funeral plans have not been completed but the service will be conducted by Father J.J. Keane at St. Patrick’s church at 9 a.m. Monday. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery here. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, November 14, 1942)

John Kiefer Services Held Here Monday
Funeral services for John Martin Kiefer, who died Friday afternoon, were held at 9 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick’s church. A requiem high mass was sung by Miss Alvina Goecke, Mr. Frank Kock and Mrs. William Dooley. Father J.J. Keane said the mass. Burial was in St. Patrick’s cemetery.

Pallbearers included H.L. Dominey, H.D. Hinsch, Emmanuel Stavros, Clinton Swale, Charles Thomas and Mike Woods.

Daughters and Sons Present
Present for the funeral were Mr. Kiefer’s daughters, Helen, who is taking nurse’s training in Mason city, Mrs. Roy Hoffman, who came with her husband from Fort Dodge and Mrs. Wayne Osmundson, whose husband came from Helena, Ark., where he is stationed with the Coast Guard; and his sons, Raymond, who attends a naval training school at Urbana, Ill., and John Edward, who lives at home.

Friends, Relatives
Friends and relatives who came for Mr. Kiefer’s services were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kiefer, Mr. and Mrs. Will Kiefer and Mrs. John Wagner of Adams, Minn.; Mrs. Jack White of Rose Creek, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Kiefer of Kaopl, Minn.; Mrs. Kelly Machenich of Austin, Minn.; Mrs. J.D. Carey of Chester; Mr. and Mrs. Nick Klein of Calmar; Miss Eva Bagan of Hantshire, Ill.; W.J. Bagan of McCook, Neb.; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bagan of Jamestown, N.D.; Mr. and Mrs. George Bagan and Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Stoltz of Albert Lea, Minn.; Griff Owens of Benkelman, Neb.; Linus Klein and Mrs. Louis Rodenborn of Des Moines; pat Bagan and Mr. Dange of Waterloo; Dave Bagan of Fort Dodge; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Steffen of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lair, Mr. and Mrs. Art Donely, John Carey and Miss Mayme Doyle of Albert Lea, Minn. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, November 18, 1942)