William Harmsen 1896-1957

HARMSEN, GRAGE, JEPSEN, HOFFMAN, PETERSEN, BLECKER

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/26/2019 at 08:10:30

4 July 1957 - The Tipton Conservative

Last rites for William Harmsen, 60, a former Durant resident who died June 25 at the home of his son, LaVerne Harmsen, Muscatine, following an extended illness, were held Friday at the Durant chapel.

The Rev. Alvin Volle, Bennett, officiated. Burial was in the Memorial Park cemetery, Davenport.

The son of Charles and Dora Grage Harmsen, he was born Aug. 26, 1896, in Chicago, Ill. He came to Durant with his family at the age of 5. His marriage to Frieda Steffen took place Jan. 30, 1918, in Davenport. The couple engaged in farming in Minnesota for 10 years, and then returned to Durant where they resided until 1950, when they moved to Davenport. Harmsen was employed as chief janitor and maintenance man at the Kahl building in Davenport.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Ray, Davenport, LaVerne, Muscatine, and Elmer, Chicago, Ill.; two daughters, Mrs. Elmer Jepsen, West Liberty, and Mrs. Dwayne Hoffman, Donahue; two sisters, Mrs. Anna Petersen, Durant, and Mrs. Harry Blecker, Rock Island, Ill., and 12 grandchildren.