LOUNSBERRY, William G. 1875-1964

LOUNSBERRY, WHITNEY, RASMUS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/21/2015 at 10:34:20

Rites Monday For W. G. Lounsberry, Retired Merchant

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Conrad Methodist church for William G. Lounsberry, 89, retired Conrad grocer, who died Thursday at his home here following a brief illness.

Rev. R. O. Grote officiated the service. Burial was in the Conrad cemetery with graveside rites performed by Roman Lodge No. 564, AF & AM.

Special music for the service consisted of songs by Russell Kruse and C. D. Wilson Jr. Miss Evelyn Stevens was organist.

Casket bearers were D. C. Reece, H. D. Martin, Karl Kopsa, B. B. Bone, Ted Boss and Edgar Abels. Honorary bearers were Herman Haws, J. W. St.Clair, Fred Zeltman, C. M. Evans, C. E. Lackey and H. D. Hunt.

Flower attendants were Mrs. Herman Haws, Mrs. D. C. Reece and Mrs. Barbara Larson.

William Guernsey Lounsberry, the son of Joel Guernsey Lounsberry and Jane Whitney was born June 4, 1875, on a farm near Union in Hardin county.

Mr. Lounsberry is survived by a brother, Delvin Earl Lounsberry of Oehlrich, South Dakota; a niece Mrs. Neil Lounsberry Marbarger and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Bessie Lounsberry, both of Costa Mesa, California; a cousin, Ethel Olson of Glen Flora, Wis. Also surviving are numerous distant relatives.

He attended schools in the Union area and grew to manhood there. He later moved to Conrad where he operated a grocery and general store for almost a half century. On November 23, 1904, he was united in marriage to Sophia Esther Rasmus. She passed away March 7, 1942. He was also preceded in death by his parents, and a half-sister, a sister and a brother, all of whom died in infancy. Also by a brother, Harry Clement Lounsberry, who passed away in recent years in California.

Mr. Lounsberry was a long time member of the Conrad Methodist church and served in many church offices down thru the years. He was a 50 year member of Roman Lodge No. 564 AF AM, and its secretary for more than 35 years. Also, he was a member of St. Elmo Chapter, OES, and of Iowa Consistory Lodge and Shrine of Cedar Rapids. Mr. Lounsberry was a charter member of the Conrad Lions Club and a long time director of the First State Bank. During World War II, he served on the Grundy Co. War Bond Sales Board and was recognized by the President for his services.

Mr. Lounsberry will be remembered in the community for his active support of his church and all civic and community improvement ventures. Even in his advanced years he participated and was interested in all community activities.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 29 October 1964, pg 9