James J. Lynch (1938)
HURLEY, LYNCH
Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:03:05
The Laurens Sun
Laurens, Iowa
Thursday, June 16, 1938
Page 1, Column 1J. J. Lynch An Early Day Resident Dies
J. J. Lynch died in a hospital in Des Moines last Friday and the funeral was held Monday morning at St. Augustine’s Catholic church in that city and burial was made there by the side of his wife who died a few years ago. Few particulars are at hand concerning his last days, but his death must have been rather sudden for he was driving his car Tuesday or Wednesday before his death. Last fall he had very serious operation at S. U. I. hospital and his recovery was so slow he decided to return to Laurens where he had again opened a real estate office until this spring and he had gone to Cumming near Des Moines to be with relatives.
Mr. Lynch was one of the early settlers in this community, first on a farm south of Laurens, then for many years in town. For a time he conducted a store but finally drifted into the insurance and real estate business which he made a great success.
He always took an active interest in the civic affairs of the community. In the early 90’s he served several years on the school board and never lost interest in education. He gave all his children the best college training possible.
Mr. Lynch was one of the most prominent spirits in organizing the Catholic church in Laurens. When it came to building the present church building, he with three other men, his brother Ed, Thomas Eberle and Frank Halder gave their personal notes for $1800 to finance the project. And so long as he lived in Laurens he was a trusted and honored member of the church board.
Mr. Lynch brought his bride to Laurens. Here three sons and one daughter were born and grew to manhood and womanhood. Within the past few years, the mother, the three sons and the father have died. The only one left is the daughter who lives in Chicago. These have all passed on since they left Laurens. The children were Dr. James Lynch, a successful doctor in Boston; Adrian Lynch who took up insurance but who had quite a reputation as a ball player, first in the Laurens High School, then a pitcher with the Western League at Des Moines and finally with the Minneapolis club; Vernon became a successful attorney in Des Moines; and Cecelia who is doing secretarial work in Chicago. This brilliant family is almost gone in a very few years.
Perhaps during the early years of this century, Mr. Lynch sold more real estate than any other man in Northwest Iowa. He wa a man of the highest ideals, strictly honest and honorable.
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Lynch living south of town and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Hurley of Pocahontas attended the funeral. Mr. Lynch and Mrs. Hurley are nephew and niece of the deceased.
Mr. Lynch was 75 years old. The family, all living then, left Laurens in 1922 and moved to Des Moines.
________________________Transcriber's note: Per census data, the deceased was born and raised in Madison County, marrying there in 1892.
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Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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