Oliver Lee Van Kirk 1891-1945

VAN KIRK, PETERSON

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 2/2/2021 at 07:37:10

5 April 1945 - The Anamosa Journal

Oliver Lee Van Kirk, 54, who served 30 months overseas during World war I, died Tuesday morning at the Veteran's hospital, Des Moines.

Funeral service will be held this Thursday afternoon at two o'clock at the Smykil Home for Funerals. Rev. C. E. Burdine will officiate, assisted by members of the Masonic lodge and the Arthur McCullough post of the American Legion. Burial will be at Riverside cemetery. Pallbearers are Verne Purcell, Charles Kay, Earl Raver, Henry Eichhorn, Vern F. Miller and P. S. Robertson.

He was born Feb. 14, 1891, at Reeve, Ia. He attended the local school and graduated in 1912, and after taking advanced commercial work a the Cedar Rapids Business college worked as an accountant.

Lee enlisted for military service three days after the United States entered World War I, and was assigned to the 314th brigade field artillery. After serving 30 months, he was discharged in Paris, France, and attached to the peace conference as a recorder of peace table discussions. He returned to the states as a civilian in December, 1919.

He married Virginia Peterson, Lyons, April 14, 1921. After working for the Standard Oil Co. for a time, he was appointed Jones county auditor, and was later elected for two additional terms, leaving at the end of five years service to accept an appointment as a state examiner of county and city accounts under the state auditor's department.

In 1932 he was appointed chief clerk of the men's reformatory in Anamosa, and was later promoted to auditor of industries there, resigning three years ago because of ill health.

He was a past master of Anamosa lodge No. 48, A.F. and A.M., and an active member of Arthur McCullough post, American Legion.

Surviving are his wife, Virginia, and son, Fay, his mother, Mrs. Ida B. Van Kirk, and three brothers, Howard, South Amana; Virgil, Anamosa, and Frederick, Babbitt, Nev.