Holcomb, Johan (John) Henry 1866-1950

HOLCOMB, JOHNSON, WALLENTINE, ROALSON

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/5/2021 at 16:05:36

Algona Upper DesMoines, December 5, 1950

J. H. Holcomb Obituary
Funeral rites were held here Monday, Nov. 27, for J. H. Holcomb, who died at his home here Saturday, November 25, just 18 days after his wife had lost her life in an automobile accident. The services Monday were in the Lutheran Church with his pastor, the Rev. A. M. Youngquist in charge.

John Henry Holcomb was born at Knoxville, Ill, on January 6, 1866. He grew to manhood in and around Altona, IL. On January 6, 1887, he was married to Hilda O. Johnson of Altona. A short time later they moved to Denmark twp., in Emmet county, building a comfortable home 4 miles south of Armstrong, Iowa.

They became parents of 8 children: Anton of Minneapolis, Minn.; Philip of Swea City; Lewis of East Chain, Minnesota; Oscar, who died June 6, 1923; Albert of Willmar, Minn; Edna of Ames; and Milton of Oxford, Ohio.

There are also 3 step-sons, Harold Wallentine of Swea City, Theodore Wallentine of Lakota, and George Wallentine of Elmore, Minn., and 25 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren survive.

While living in Denmark twp. Mr. Holcomb served as organist in the Danish Lutheran Church for several years, and for many years he was the only person among his Danish neighbors who could read English, and therefore was often called to their assistance with their legal documents.

In the fall of 1898, the family moved to the farm north west of Swea City. They joined the Zion Lutheran Church where through the years he served as treasurer, trustee, deacon and adult Bible teacher. He also had an active part in civic affairs, and was a member of the school board when the present Swea City consolidated school was organized and built.

His wife, Hilda, preceded him in death June 6, 1917. On Feb. 28, 1925, he was married to Christine Wallentine, at the parsonage of the Zion Lutheran Church. And in 1929 the family moved to a farm near Lakota, where they lived until they moved to the present home in Swea City in 1947.

Burial was in the Swea twp. Lutheran cemetery. Pallbearers were Merton Roalson, J. August Peterson, Richard Anderson, Carl Lofstrom, Roy Pehrson and Rudolph Peterson.
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