Ankrum, Homer R. (1920-2003)

ANKRUM, HANSON, BONNER, WHALEY, ADAMS, FUHRMAN, LOVELACE, WILLIAMS, JANES, OLSON

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 6/26/2016 at 17:33:33

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Apr. 17, 2003

Obituaries

Homer R. Ankrum, 82, Mount Dora, Fla. and Stratford

Homer R. Ankrum, 82, died Wednesday, Apr. 16, 2003 at the Hamilton Hospital. Private graveside services will be held at a later date in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City. No visitation.

Homer R. Ankrum was born July 20, 1920 in Hamilton County, Iowa. He was the son of Lucy Lester Ankrum and James Arthur Ankrum. He graduated from Webster City, Iowa High School in 1938 and attended the WC Jr. College until called in February 1941 for active duty with the United States Army. He had joined the National Guard in Webster City at the age of 15. While in battle in Italy, he received a battlefield commission. Following World War II, Ankrum reorganized and commanded Co. E, 133rd Infantry then volunteered for active army service during the Korean War. He retired as a Lt. Colonel from the army in 1963 to accept the position of city manager in his hometown of Webster City. He later served as city manager of Fridley, Minn., Maywood, Ill., and retired as city manager of Lake Bluff, Ill. in 1981 and moved to Mount Dora, Fla.

Survivors include his wife Ellen Hanson Ankrum, sister, Mabel Bonner Whaley, Webster City, children Dennis of Austin, Texas, Mary (Mike) Adams, Webster City, Thomas of Lake Forest, Ill., Peggy (Marcus) Fuhrman of Grand Canyon, Ariz., Patty Ankrum of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and Janet Lovelace of Puyalup, Wash, grandchildren, Bradley Williams, Lincoln, Neb., Rebecca Williams of Corona Del Mar Calif., Jeremy Janes of Des Moines, Jason Janes, Puyalup, Wash., Jordan Lovelace, Puyalup, Wash., Amanda Fuhrman, Santa Cruz, Calif., Wesley Fuhrman, Grand Canyon, Ariz., and Carl Ankrum, Oak Park Ill., plus many nieces and nephews. He and his wife also have several friends who have been like daughters and sons to them, namely Sondra Birkenes, Albuquerque, NM, Janet Sonksen, Marsha and Mike Headley, all of Stratford.

Homer was preceded in death by his former wife, Ethel Olson Antrum, his parents, and brothers, Albert, Alvin, Dilman and William, plus two new-born baby brothers.

Homer had many interests, among them Past president of the State of Iowa City Managers’ Assoc., former trustee State of Iowa Financial Board of City Managers, past president of Lake County Florida Retired Officers Assoc., former president of Boone County Development Assoc., served on transportation committee of Metropolitan Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., served on Governor of Minnesota’s Personnel Commission, past Vice Commander of WC VFW Post, member of Boone, Iowa VFW, member of Webster City American Legion, former member of Mount Dora Yacht Club, member of Lake County Florida Sons of the American Revolution, member of the Elks Club in Eustis, Florida, member of the 34th Div. Assoc. Camp Dodge, Iowa, member of the Tri-State Assoc. 34th Div., member of the 2nd Battalion Assoc. Mason City, Iowa, member of Co. E, 1133rd Infantry Rev. 34th Div. Assoc., member of the National Order of Battlefield Commissions, author of two books, “Dogfaces Who Smiled Through Tears” WWII and “Bittersweet Years” 1920-1941, composed the words and music to “March of the Red Bull Legions” and “Iowa, the Hawkeye State”. He was the holder of two United States and Canadian patents, was a member of the Lutheran Church in Stratford, and an associate member of the Congregational Church in Mount Dora, Fla.