REESE, Elmer L. (1900-1982)

REESE, MELLOR, CUNNINGHAM, TRAIL, SCHOEPF, REINKE

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 9/26/2022 at 16:33:23

Retired area farmer died Thursday

Retired Forest City area farmer, Elmer L. Reese, 81, died May 27 at a Mason City hospital.

Reese started farming in Hancock county and in 1938 moved to his present farm near Forest City. He retired in 1962.

Elmer L. Reese was born Oct. 5, 1900, in Albion, Neb., to Henry and Ida Mellor Reese. When he was a child, his parents moved to a farm in Hancock county.

After serving briefly in the U.S. Army, he returned to Hancock county where he did general trucking and worked in the wheat harvest in North Dakota.

Reese married Emily Cunningham Dec. 7, 1930, in Blue Earth, Minn. The couple lived briefly in Crystal Lake where Elmer was employed by the Hancock county road maintenance department, before they began farming.

For many years the Reeses spent the summer months at their cabin near Longville, Minn., and the winter months in Apache Junction. Ariz.

Survivors include his wife, Emily; three children, Duane Reese of Forest City, Marvin Reese of Miller and Mrs. Ronald (Glennice) Trail of Des Moines; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his step-father, Matthew Schoepf, his half-brothers, Irvin Reese and Glen Reinke, his step-brothers, Charles and Vern Schoepf, and a step-sister, Mrs. Fiona Trail.

Funeral services for Mr. Reese were conducted Saturday morning at First Congregational Church in Forest City. Dr. Charles W. Hanko officiated.

The Rev. and Mrs. Emil Martinson sang a duet and Mrs. Gail Reese was soloist.

Casket bearers were Don Reese, Irving Reese, John Reese, Randy Trail, Scott Elliott and Barry Osborne.

Burial was in Madison Township cemetery with the Petersen Funeral home handling the arrangements.

source: Summit, Forest City, Iowa, 3 Jun 1982, page A3, column 1