Elizabeth Wherry 1940-1944

WHERRY, SYKES, SCHAEFER, WINOGRAD

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 12/28/2020 at 14:46:58

October 19, 1944 - The Anamosa Journal

WYOMING--Funeral service for Mrs. John T. Wherry was held from the family home, Sunday afternoon, Oct. 15. Burial was in the Wyoming cemetery. Main part of the service was a musical memorial presented by Dennis Klempnaver, Mason City, and Grace Anderson, Glen Ellyn, Ill., both of the music department, Cornell college.

Following selections were used: Chorale, Rejoice Christians, Bach, piano, Miss Anderson; Panis Angelicus, Franck, soprano, Miss Klempnaver; Adagio, Sonata in C., Op 2, No. 3, Beethoven, piano, Miss Anderson; Vergin, Tutta Amor, Durante, soprano, Miss Klempnaver; Andante, Sonata, Op. 120, Schubert, piano, Miss Anderson.

Rev. Robert Allen of the Wyoming Presbyterian church conducted the remainder of the service, included a mesiac of passages from the Pslams.

Mrs. John T. Wherry, the last of her generation in both her own and her husband's family, died Oct. 14, 1944, in her home at Wyoming.

Elizabeth Minerva Sykes, daughter of Ralph and Theresa Sykes was born in Twinsburg, Ohio, June 21, 1850. Her early years were spent in Honeoye Falls, N.Y., where with her mother and older sisters, she awaited the return of the soldier father from the Civil war. It was here that her talent for music was developed. At the close of the war the family came to Big Rock, Ia., and after several years their permanent home was established in Oxford Mills.

After completing her education in music at Fayette, she spent many years teaching piano and organ in the pioneer community around Oxford Junction. Later in life she was graduated from the Chatauqua correspondence course which was comparable to a college liberal arts course.

In 1882 she was married to John T. Wherry, who died in 1938. They settled on a farm southeast of Wyoming where their children were born. In 1915, Mr. and Mrs. Wherry retired to Wyoming.

Mrs. Wherry was a member of the United Presbyterian church, where she served as organist and choir director until ill health prevented further activity. She was a member of the Bay View club and one of the charter members of the C.T.T. club and the Wyoming Historical society. She had spent the last summer in her home in Wyoming with her daughter, Winifred.

Survivors are her three children; Winifred and Don L., both of Wyoming; and Beth, Mrs. Charles Schaefer, Olympia, Wash., two grandsons, John, Des Moines, and Richard, Ft. Knox, Ky.; two granddaughters, Winifred Winograd, New York City and Lois Schaefer, Boston.