Doonan, Robert – 1837-1937

COCHRAN, DOONAN, FAREWELL, MCKEE, SCHOALES, STUDHAM, TOPEL

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:37

Robert Doonan, Nearly 100, Dies Today
Would Have Been Century Old On Friday, Sept. 10
Newton’s Oldest Citizen Took Ill Monday Afternoon; Died This Morning
Robert Doonan, native Irishman who would have been 100 years of age Friday, died here at 9:45 a.m. today – just 16 hours short of the century mark.
A reception and open house had been planned for Mr. Doonan Friday at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John Schoales, and his granddaughter, Mary Schoales, at 518 First Street North.
Ill Since Monday
Mr. Doonan took ill Monday, but refused to go to bed until sent there by his physician Tuesday afternoon.
He had been out working in the garden Monday morning, but at noon he complained of feeling ill and said:
“I never felt like this before.”
His physician said Mr. Doonan was suffering from pneumonia. He pronounced the cause of death to be gastro enteritis.
Wednesday morning Mr. Doonan apparently was alright again, but it was necessary to take him to Skiff Memorial hospital in the afternoon and he was unconscious from that time until his death this morning.
Funeral
Funeral services will be held Saturday or Sunday at Montezuma, in the Methodist Episcopal church, with Dr. L. B. Logan of Newton in charge. Burial will be in the Montezuma cemetery.
Mr. Doonan enjoyed good health until the last with the exception of impaired hearing.
Even last Saturday he was able to shave himself with a straight edge razor he brought with him from Ireland nearly 50 years ago. Until only recently he shaved himself without using a mirror to guide him.
The last family gathering which Mr. Doonan attended was the golden wedding anniversary for Mr. and Mrs. Schoales, Aug. 10.
A retired farmer, he spent all of his life in the country with the exception of the last five years in Newton. He came here in 1933 to live with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Schoales, and granddaughter, Mary Schoales.
Mr. Doonan has one brother living. William Doonan of Balaton, Minn., and three children, Mrs. John Schoales of Newton; John Doonan, Oskaloosa, and William Doonan, Barnes City. A daughter, Mrs. Martha McKee, died in 1911. Mr. Doonan’s wife died in 1910.
26 Grandchildren
There are also 26 grandchildren, six great grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Schoales of San Francisco, Calif., a grandson, arrived here Wednesday.
Mr. Doonan was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the home department of the Sunday school. He was also a member of the Orange lodge of Ireland and of The Newton Daily News-Record Three Quarter Century Club.
(obituary includes a photo)
Source: Newton Daily News; Thursday, September 9, 1937

Doonan Rites Will Be Held At Montezuma
Funeral services for Robert Doonan, 99, who died Thursday morning will be held at the Montezuma Methodist Episcopal church Saturday at 2 p.m., it was announced today. Burial will be in the Montezuma cemetery.
Dr. L. B. Logan of Newton, will be in charge of the services.
There will be a short prayer service Saturday noon at Toland’s funeral home.
Source: Newton Daily News; Friday, September 10, 1937

Conduct Rites For 99-Year-Old Newton Resident
Final Rites for Robert Doonan Held Saturday In Montezuma
Dr. Leslie B. Logan of Newton in Charge of Rites; Burial At Montezuma
Robert Doonan, 99-year-old Newton resident who died Thursday just 16 hours before his 100th anniversary, was buried Saturday at Montezuma, his former home.
Brief local rites were conducted Saturday noon at the Toland funeral home in Newton, followed by the final services at 2:00 o’clock at the Methodist Episcopal church in Montezuma. Dr. Leslie B. Logan, pastor of the Newton M. E. church was in charge of both services.
Music for the church service included two solos, “Abide With me” by Mrs. Charles Gorsuch and “Going Down the Valley,” by Warren Pollard. Alice Underwood was the accompanist.
Interment was in the Montezuma cemetery, with the following serving as pall bearers: Robert Hicks, Thomas Hicks, Elmer Hicks, Clarence Hicks, Bud Blaine and George F. Johnson.
The flowers were arranged by Mrs. Florence Steffy of Montezuma and Joe Babb of Newton.
Relatives from Away
Relatives from a distance for the rites were a brother, William Doonan, 80, of Balaton, Minn.; Mrs. Charles Topel, also of Balaton; Mr. and Mrs. John Doonan of Slayton, Minn.; Mrs. Alexander Studham and son, John, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Schoales of San Francisco; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schoales of Rock Island, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Doonan of Waverly; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Doonan of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Horace Farewell of Aledo, Ill.; Mr and Mrs. Louis Cochran of Eldora; Mr and Mrs. John Doonan of Oskaloosa and Mr. and Mrs. William Doonan of Barnes City.
Newton relatives in attendance were the son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John Schoales, and the granddaughter, Mary Schoales, with whom he made his home.
Mr. Doonan, native of Ireland, died Thursday at 8:45 a.m. at the Skiff Memorial hospital, following a short illness. He was taken ill the previous Monday and was removed from his home, 518 First Street North, to the hospital Wednesday afternoon, when he lapsed into unconsciousness.
Cancel Celebration
A celebration had been planned for Friday, Sept. 10, in honor of his one hundredth birthday anniversary, but festivities were cancelled Wednesday because of his illness.
Born in Ireland, Sept. 10, 1837, he came to the United States with his wife and three of his children in 1888.
He formerly lived at Montezuma before coming to Newton in 1933.
Mr. Doonan was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and The Daily News’ Three Quarter Century club. He was also a member of the Orange lodge of Ireland.
Surviving relatives are his three children, Mrs. John Schoales of Newton, John Doonan of Oskaloosa and William Doonan of Barnes City; his brother William Doonan, 80, of Balaton, Minn.; 26 grandchildren, six great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1910; by a daughter, Mrs. Martha McKee, in 1911, and by a brother, Thompson Doonan.
Source: Newton Daily News; Monday, September 13, 1937

Doonan, Robert; born: 10 Sept. 1837; in Ireland; died: 09 Sept. 1937; Mother’s maiden name: Johnson; Death Cert # C50-0091