George Ira Secrist

SECRIST, GARDNER

Posted By: Teri Hjermstad (email)
Date: 5/4/2011 at 22:38:45

February 23, 1912

GEO. IRA SECRIST
OBITUARY NOTICE

Last Services Held From the Oelwein Baptist Church Thursday at 2:30.

George Ira Secrist was born at Garrison, Iowa, August 18, 1888. He died at Oelwein, Iowa, February 20, 1912
aged 23 years, 5 months and 19 days.

He leaves a wife (the former Viola Gardner) and two children, father, two brothers, and two sisters.
Ira was a hard working man. He kept up his effort to earn a livelihood for his dear ones until his strength was so far gone that he found it impossible to longer perform his daily task. He fought a brave battle for life against fearful odds. Even within a few hours of the end he insisted on sitting in his chair and talking over plans for life when he should be well again.
His one longing desire the last few weeks had been that might be with the boys, meaning the
young men of the Baptist church who had taken an interest in the spiritual
welfare. He had never united with any church but during- his illness he made a complete surrender of himself to the Savior and longed for the
time to come when he could identify himself with the Lord's people. Instead
of this privilege another more
glorious, that of joining the church triumphant was given him.

The sympathy of the church and a large circle of friends goes out to the bereaved wife and children.
Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the Baptist church, the pastor. Rev. A. H. Nickell, in charge. A large congregation attested the esteem in which the deceased was held. Burial took place in the Oelwein cemetery.