John Leonard Gillespie 1879-1972

GILLESPIE MCGLOFLIN WHITING

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 12/16/2009 at 21:56:01

Onawa Sentinel
11 May 1972

John Leonard Gillespie, a long time resident of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away at the Elmwood Nursing Home in Onawa, Iowa May 3, 1972 at the age of 92 years. He had been a resident at the home for more than a year.

He was born at Nevada, Iowa on November 5, 1879, the son of Joseph Franklin and Alice McGloflin Gillespie. After high school he attended Iowa State University graduating in 1899 with a B.S. degree in engineering. He graduated from the University of Iowa law school in 1903 and went to Des Moines, where he was a practicing attorney for more than 50 years.

On June 28, 1904 he was united in marriage to Mary Eliza Whiting at Mapleton, Iowa and to this union two children were born.

Mrs. Gillespie preceded him in death June 28, 1961 at Spicer, Minn. His son, John L. Gillespie, Jr., also preceded him in death June 28, 1969.

He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Mapleton; the Masonic Lodge at Nevada, Iowa, Za-Ga-Zig Shrine Temple, Des Moines; the Polk County Bar Association, Sigma Nu fraternity and Phi Delta Phi law fraternity.

Survivors include the daughter, Mrs. Norma R. (Mary) Whiting, Whiting, Iowa; one granddaughter, Mrs. Roger (Jane) Zobel, West Des Moines, Iowa and one great grandson, Mark Alan Zobel, West Des Moines.

Memorial services were held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 5, 1972 at Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church in Mapleton with Father Traumer officiating.