HESLEY, Earl C. (1903-1997)

HESLEY, COOK, WHITCOMB, BLUM, MANSER

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 10/6/2025 at 20:49:09

Earl C. Hesley
1903-1997

Services for Earl Chester Hesley, 93, Britt, who died Saturday, Jan. 4, 1997, at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt, will be held Wednesday, Jan. 8, 1:30 p.m., at the Britt Congregational United Church of Christ with Rev. Harlan Stenberg officiating.

Music will be provided by organist, Leanne Buns, and soloist, Charles T. McLaughlin. Ushers will be Ray Coslow and Jim Miller.

Casket bearers will be Harold Wallen, Robert Korneisel, Wilbert Freesman, Mark Kollasch, Dale Hesley and Duane Malek.

Burial will be at the Evergreen Cemetery in Britt with Ewing Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. The flag presentation will be under the direction of the V.F.W. and the Britt American Legion.

Earl Chester Hesley, the son of Henry and Bertha Cook Hesley, was born March 14, 1903, at Crystal Lake. The family moved to Britt in 1919, transferring from Crystal Lake Schools to Britt Schools, graduating in the spring of 1925. Two years later he entered the University of Iowa and studied there until the spring of 1930, when he left because of the depression. He was employed by an oil company located at Algona for six years and then for two years in the Britt territory. He left the oil company in 1938. He then worked for Roberts Brothers, publishers of the Britt News Tribune until 1943, when he entered the U.S. Armed Forces. He served in the U.S. Navy with overseas duty in the South Pacific area. After his discharge, following naval services, he joined the U.S. Postal Service, serving 28 years with the last 20 years as a rural route carrier for the Orthel and Britt Townships. Earl retired in 1973.

In 1934, he married Irene Whitcomb in Osage. She died December 28, 1976.

Earl was a long-time member of the Britt congregational Church, Mason Lodge, the National Rural Letter Carriers Association and a 50-year member of the Britt American Legion.

He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Helen Blum of Charles City and Mrs. Bertha Manser of Le Center, MN; one brother, Robert Hesley of Glendale, AZ; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Hesley of Mason City; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Irene; and five brothers, Lawrence, Everett, Harold, George and Harry.

source: Leader & Signal, Garner, Iowa, 8 Jan 1997, page 6, column 1