CREES, Charles E. 1885-1918

CREES, LOWDER, HICKSON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/5/2016 at 11:17:52

Death Removes Seven Within A Week's Time

Many Homes In This Vicinity Have Been Saddened During the Past Few Days

Seven Deaths In Less Than Week

All of these Deaths Were Due to the Prevailing Epidemic of Influenza and Pneumonia

Five homes in which there were seven deaths have been saddened during the past week in this city and vicinity by the Death Angel. In one home--that of the Bottema family living northeast of here--there has been three deaths. All were due to pneumonia following the influenza.

Chas. E. Crees
Chas. Elmer Lowder was born in Kokomo, Ind., June 1, 1885 and died in Grundy Center, Iowa, Nov. 23, 1918 of pneumonia following influenza, aged 33 years, 5 months and 22 days.

His parents came to Kellerton, Ia., in 1887, where the mother died about two months after they arrived there. Soon after the mother's death Charles was adopted into the P. C. Crees family at Kellerton and was given the name of his foster parents. By them he was reared and educated as their own son. They put him thru the public school and he graduated in the Kellerton High School in the class of 1902. Afterwards they sent him for a time to Drake University at Des Moines.

Charles became interested in telegraphy, and his parents sent him to Valpariso, Ind. School of Telegraphy where he graduated. After graduation he worked for the C. B. & Q. R. R. Co. for some time, later coming to Reinbeck as operator for the Great Western.

He was married to Miss May Hickson of Reinbeck, June 25th, 1907. Since their marriage they have lived at Lincoln, Iowa, Kellerton, Iowa, Creston, Iowa and Wamsetter, Wyoming. The last four years they have resided at Reinbeck, and he has been in the employ of the Graves Auto Co., most of the time. They had moved to Grundy Center only a few months ago, where he was in the employment of the Thornton Auto Co.

He leaves to mourn his seemingly untimely death, the loving and faithful wife, upon whom this blow falls heavily, three children, Frances aged ten, Earl aged eight and Cordella, aged one and one half years. Besides his father, W. L. Lowder of Friday Harbor, Washington State, his foster father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Crees of Kellerton, Iowa, who on account of age and feeble health were not able to be present at the funeral. Also one brother, Earl Lowder of Logan, Iowa, and one sister, Mrs. May Home, Logan, Ia., and an uncle F. J. Euritt, of Kellerton, Iowa, who were present at the funeral services.

Charles was a genial, friendly young man, well liked by all who knew him. He was an expert mechanic, having taken training at the Drake School of Mechanics and his services were in demand. He will be missed in the business and industrial circles, as well as in the home and among his friends.

The heartfelt sympathies of a number of friends and acquaintances both at Grundy Center and Reinbeck go out to the bereaved wife and children and relatives.

Brief funeral services were held at the home in Grundy Center and at the cemetery in Reinbeck Sunday afternoon, Nov. 24th, conducted by Rev. Geo. E. Shear, pastor of the M.E. church of Reinbeck, Iowa. Interment was in the Reinbeck cemetery.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 28 November 1918, pg 1, 8