BELZ, Charles 1914–1935

BELZ

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler, Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/16/2013 at 08:05:46

Former Conrad Boy Dies Suddenly at Des Moines Last Friday. Death Was Shock to Family, Friends

This community was shocked Friday night when word was sent to relatives here that Charles Belz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Belz, former residents of Conrad, had died at Des Moines last evening. Death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Charles Alvin Belz was born November 26, 1914, at Conrad, Iowa. He died July 12, 1935 at Des Moines, Iowa at the age of twenty years, seven months and sixteen days.

He attended grade and high school in Conrad, graduating with his class in 1932. Later in the same year he enrolled in Drake University. In both high school and college he was a regular participant in athletic activities and special work. Since his matriculation at college he has been a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Conrad.

During the last six months Charles has been employed by the Polk county Emergency Relief committee, serving in the territory surrounding Valley Junction. This work was terminated by his untimely death.

He leaves to mourn him, both parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford C. Belz, and one sister, Barbara, at their home in Des Moines. He also leaves many relatives and a host of friends.

The funeral was held at the Methodist Episcopal church in Conrad Monday afternoon at 2:30, where they body lay in state for an hour previous to the service. Relatives and friends filled the church. Rev. Floyd R. Maynard, the pastor, read brief selections from the old and new testaments and otherwise participated in the service. The Rev. Ralph Hall Collis, a former pastor, spoke comfortingly upon the theme “The Lord is My Shepherd,” and also rendered a musical reading, “The Weavers,” accompanied by his daughter, Arla. Mrs. L. B. Canfield of Grundy Center sang “Still, Still With Thee,” and “Crossing the Bar,” with Isabelle Stevens at the piano. Six fraternity brothers acted as honorary pallbearers. The pallbearers were Dale Loverin, Frank Miller, Leon Smith and Jack Hughes of Conrad and L. D. Krane and Eldon Jackson of Des Moines. The flower girls were Doris Loverin, Gwendolyn Belz, Velma Belz, Phyllis Clarke, Vola Bowers, Fern Shoup, Maxine Morrison of Des Moines and Jeanette Younker of Nevada. Burial was made in the local cemetery with Rev. Maynard reading the service and Rev. Mr. Collis offering prayer.

Among the friends and relatives from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Will McGiffin and Mrs. G. D. Matthews and son of Kansas City; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Heber, Mr. and Mrs.
F. W. Hartwig, George Belz, Mrs. Chris Belz and daughter, all of Cedar Falls; Mr. and Mrs. Bennett and Miss Eleanor Ryder, Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Minard, Toledo. There were also a number of friends from Des Moines in attendance. The class of 1932 of the Conrad high school and the boys’ Sunday school class of which Charles had been a member, attended in a body. The business places of Conrad closed at 2 o’clock and remained closed until after the service.

Source: Unknown newspaper clipping found in scrapbook belonging to my great grandmother.