Frank G. Oliver 1875 - 1958

OLIVER, CONNER, SMITH

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/21/2016 at 20:25:10

Onawa Weekly Democrat
9 January 1958

Well Known Onawa Man Died Last Thursday

Frank G. Oliver, 82, Passed Away After An Illness of Over A Year. He Had Played A Prominent Part in Onawa’s Civic And Religious Life.

Funeral services were conducted from the Congregational Church on Saturday, January 4th at 2 p.m. Burial was made in the Onawa Cemetery.

Frank G. Oliver, a man who perhaps gave more of his time to the growth of this community in a civic and religious way during his life time, than any other person we might point out, passed away at the Onawa Hospital on January 2, 1958, after a confinement there of nearly a year following a stroke.

For many years, Mr. Oliver was one of the Onawa’s most permanent citizens and he gave freely of his time and money to those thinks that helped make Onawa a better community.

During his life, he filled many places of trust in our community; serving was President of the Onawa Board of Education, Mayor of Onawa for eight years, secretary of the Commercial Club, now known as the Chamber of Commerce, and he served many places in an official way in the church he helped organize, the Congregational church, where his presence could always be seen at all services and functions.

The above are only a few of the many things that Mr. Oliver did for our community in an official way. He held the respect and friendship of the hundreds of friends he made during his long public career.

Frank G. Oliver was born in Monona County, Iowa, March 19, 1875, the son of Frank G. and Esther (Conner) Oliver.

His father, who was born in Maine in 1835, came to Monona County, Iowa in 1857 and settled in Franklin Township, where he owned and operated a farm and where he resided until his death in 1901. His mother, Esther (Conner) Oliver, was born in New York State in 1837 and died in 1917.

They were the parents of 14 children, Frank G. Oliver being the 12th in order of birth.

Frank G. Oliver, the subject of this sketch attended the grade school in Franklin Township, and subsequently was a student of the Onawa High School. He farmed in Monona County until 1905, and since that time had been engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Onawa.

On March 14, 1895, Mr. Oliver married Stella V. Smith, a native of Maine, but who with her parents came to Monona County in an early day. They observed their 62nd Wedding Anniversary in March 1957.

Besides his widow, Stella, he is survived by four children, Mildred Feller, the wife of Rev. J.E. Feller of Cherokee, Iowa, Gordon, now in the real estate and insurance business, Esther Hansen, associated in the furniture business in Onawa with her husband, and Willard Oliver also in the insurance and real estate business. The latter three reside in Onawa. Also a number of grandchildren survive.

Frank G. Oliver will be remembered for the many acts of kindness he bestowed on others, his devotion to his church and his untiring efforts in making Onawa a better place to live.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, January 4, 1958, at 2 p.m. at the Congregational Church with Rev. Edwin Burlingame conducting the services. Mrs. Willie Jensen sang “My Faith Looks up to Thee” and “The Lord’s Prayer” accompanied at the organ by Mrs. Marie Danforth. Active bearers Robert Underhill, Fred Fountain, Darold Moon, Clarence Mathiasen, Dr. Carl Hopkins and LeRoy Aust.

Honorary bearers were Oscar Bakke, Fred Wonder, A.W. Burgess, W.K. Hale, A.M. Grant, Sigurd Hansen, Mark Murphy, Allen Muir and E.C. Myrland. Interment was in the Onawa Cemetery with arrangements by the Pearson Funeral Home.

Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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