Spies, Melvin Earl "Earl" 1903-1949

SPIES, HAUSER

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 8/4/2015 at 14:01:56

From: Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, December 30, 1949

Funeral Services Held For Melvin Earl Spies, 46, Merrill Merchant

The funeral for Earl Spies, 46, held in the Methodist church last Monday was one of the largest ever held in Merrill. The Rev. W. C. Smith officiated.

The Soo Land Four male quartet of Hinton, composed of Wayne Spies, Robert Hagblade, Dean Harrison and Robert Bogenrief sang the hymns for the services.

Melvin Earl Spies, son of George F. and Katherine Spies, died at a Sioux City hospital on Saturday morning, Dec. 24, after a sickness of several months.

He was born at Melbourne Sept. 24, 1903. On Aug. 26, 1926 he was united in marriage with Delia Hauser of Le Mars. To this union was born one son, Robert Wendell.

For 17 years, Mr. Spies was employed at the Pilley Creamery in Merrill as the driver of a cream truck during which time he acquired a host of friends. The past six years he has successfully operated grocery store in Merrill.

He was a n active member of the Merrill Community Club, always ready and willing to do his share in making Merrill a town he could be proud of.

The survivors include his wife, one son, his mother, Mrs. Katharine Spies, a sister. Fern, and two brothers, Leland and Dwight, all of Merrill.

Pall bearers were Robert E. Brownlee, Carl Luense, Nick Singer, Emmet L. Wilson, J. F. Kissinger and Ted Forney.

Honorary pallbearers were C. C. Hauff, Jens Petersen, M. O. Nelson, Clem Singer, Floyd Powell, C. J. Vanderloo, C. W. Brunstedt and William A. Lamoureux.

Among those persons coming from a distance were Mrs. Evalyn Kale and daughter, Clair, of Minneapolis, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Blecker and Mrs. Anna Henry of Rock Rapids; Mrs. Art Christiansen, Jake Spies, and Ben Spies of Valley Springs, S. D.