Vladimir M. Petcoff 1882-1962

PETCOFF, TABER, MAYERS, BARTLEMAN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/28/2013 at 00:17:49

Vladimir Petcoff Dies
Vladimir Petcoff, 79, former Estherville resident, died Saturday in Detroit, Mich., where he has made his home since leaving Estherville. Word was received here over the weekend of his death.

Mr. Petcoff, a retired toolmaker, was a native of Bulgaria, coming to this country as a young man. Mr. Petcoff composed songs, wrote a story of his life in Bulgaria and invented a product called “No Sleep”, designed to keep motorists awake while driving. Among songs he had printed and recorded are “Back to Iowa”, “Dear Christmas” and “Maybe Tomorrow You’ll Care.”

He was married in 1914 to Eva Taber and the Petcoffs came to Estherville from Nebraska in 1928. They lived here until 1940 when they moved to Detroit. Mr. Petcoff returned here every year for a visit except 1960, the year Mrs. Petcoff died. She died Sept. 2, 1960, and last rites were held here on Sept. 6.

Mr. Petcoff is survived by two sons, Boris of Detroit and Eugene of Fort Dodge; and two daughters, Mrs. Henry (Maureen) Mayers of Gibralter, Mich.; and Mrs. Ray (Gina) Bartleman of Detroit.

The body is being sent here for burial and will arrive in Fort Dodge at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday. It will be brought to Sternborg-Reese Funeral Home where it will lie in state from 1 to 4 p.m. Friends may call between those hours.

There will be no service at the funeral home but a procession at 4 p.m. Wednesday from there to Oak Hill cemetery where graveside rites will be held. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, January 29, 1962)