James Walter Allen (1923)

ALLEN, BURGUM, HANNAN, KIENENBERGER, MCDONALD, SIMMONS

Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:03:25

The Radville News
Radville, Saskatchewan, Canada
Friday, July 6, 1923

Sudden Death of Popular Radville Man

The Grim Reaper, Death, again made his appearance in our midst last Friday morning, suddenly carrying off one of the town's most popular and highly respected citizens in the person of Walter Allen. Deceased, who was one of the local baseball team's most valuable players, had on the evening previous gone with the team to Yellowgrass, from whence they returned without playing the game, owing to rain. He was about with neighbors up to a late hour that evening, apparently in the best of health and spirits. At the usual hour next morning his little daughter went to his room, to call him to get ready for work, but could not wake him. Sometime in the early morning hours he had passed away without a struggle. Dr. McKay who was immediately called, pronounced death due to heart failure, from which deceased had been suffering some time.

The late James Walter Allen was born at East Peru, Iowa, on September 29th 1890. At the age of fifteen he went to work in Minneapolis and later to North Dakota. In 1912 he was married to Miss Estella Kienenberger, and came to Radville, where he has since made his home. Besides the sorrowing widow and four small children, deceased leaves to mourn his untimely demise, three brothers, Charles C. Iowa, Ben of Murray, Iowa, and Robert of Freewater Ore., also five sisters, Mrs. Rillie Simmons and Mrs. Tillie Simmons, both of Kansas, Mrs. Minnie McDonald, of Medock, Mo, Mrs. Etta Burgum and Mrs. Della Hannan, both of Des Moines, Iowa. Mrs. Burgum and Mrs. Hannan were present for the funeral, also Mrs. Zink and Mr. Chester Kienenberger, sister and brother of Mrs. Allen.

The funeral took place on Monday at twelve o'clock noon, at the Union Church. Members of the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs met at their lodge room and marched to the house in a body. They followed their departed brother to the church, where seats were reserved for them.

Never in the history of Radville was there such a large funeral, the congregation overflowing into the street. Every available railway man was present, to show respect to their late fellow-work man.

The service was very impressive, and was conducted by the pastor of the church, Rev. D. P. Morris. During the course of his remarks he referred to the popularity of Walter Allen, his cheerful disposition, his value to the community, as a baseball player, as a regular church attendant, and as a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge.
A mixed quartette composed of Mrs. Raven, Mrs. Clark, Mr. Watson and Floyd Cousins feelingly rendered, "Peace, Perfect Peace." At the close of the service it took fully fifteen minutes while the congregation silently filed past to view the remains. The funeral cortege then wended its way to the Radville cemetery where the last funeral rites were solemnly performed by the I. O. O. F., the service being read by Brothers C. E. Koch and A. Brammer, followed by the church Committal Service conducted by the pastor.

The sympathy of the entire community is extended to the sorrowing widow and children who have been so suddenly bereft of a kind husband and father, and in these expressions The News joins the rest of the community.

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