RUNFT, Emil F. 1888-1966

RUNFT

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/1/2015 at 14:03:41

Emil Runft, Noted Dog Fancier, Dies At Reinbeck Wed.

Emil F. Runft, who was known throughout the United States as a dog breeder and fowl fancier, died at his farm home a short distance south of Reinbeck last Wednesday afternoon. Death was due to a heart attack. He was 70 years old.

The body was taken to the French funeral home at Reinbeck where funeral arrangements were made. Services were in the Methodist church at Reinbeck Saturday afternoon. He had been a long time member of the Methodist church and was a liberal supporter for its maintenance. He was born near his 100-acre farm and lived there during nearly all of his life.

Eleven years ago he had one of his legs amputated and since that time got about in his wheelchair and was still able to drive his Buick car. He continued in his dog and fowl breeding business up to the time of his death. He never married. He and his sister Emma lived together on the farm for many years. She is the older of the two but she survives. The Runfts were among the pioneer families in the Reinbeck community. There were eight members of the family. Now the only remainder of the family is the daughter Emma.

His Sunnyside Farm housed 25 varieties of bird life and a dog business which he had operated since 1929. Many of the fowl were prize winners. Specimens were sold to breeders and collecting organizations in the United States and abroad.

At one time, Mr. Runft owned about 100 English shepherd females, which were shipped to every state in the union for sale. He also kept other breeds of what he called "farm dogs" for breeding and for sale.

He donated an organ to the Methodist church, of which he was a member, and when the building burned he donated another organ.

Mr. Runft was a member of Masonic bodies, the Lions club, the Izaak Walton League, and the Reinbeck Commercial Club.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 13 January 1966, pg 7