Felper, Louis F. 1920-1991

FELPER, RITTER, RUTHERFORD, VANDE KAMP, SANFORD, HAMILTON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 9/18/2009 at 13:45:48

Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Dec. 19, 1991

LOUIS F. FELPER

Louis F. Felper, 71, a former resident of Poweshiek County, died of a lung ailment Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Veterans Admisistration Medical Center in Des Moines.

Funeral services were conducted Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church in Marshalltown, with the Rev. Thomas Bower officiating. Organist was Dorothy Hillis, and soloist was Jean Bower, accompanied by Deb Nuss.

Pallbearers were John Sanford, Gordon and Amil Felper, Jerry Rutherford, Bob Bailey, Tim Navara, Lenny Whitaker and Ron Chalfant. Honorary bearers were Delmar, Gene, Merrill, Byron, Loren and Eldon (Bill) Fleener.

Burial was in Rosehill Memorial Gardens. Military rites were performed.

The son of Thomas and Nina Maude Ritter Felper, he was born July 11, 1920, in Stacyville. He attended school at Osage and Lodi, Wis., before moving to Montezuma. He was married to Viola Rutherford Aug. 30, 1942, in Kirksville, Mo.

Mr. Felper was drafted into the armed services in 1942, serving in World War II. He was taken prisoner of war at and was held captive for 7 1/2 months in Munich, Germany. He escaped prison camp, returned to Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., before receiving his honorable discharge at Ft. Snelling, Wash. in November 1945.

He had lived in Marshalltown since 1950, and worked at Lennox foundry from 1946 until 1958. He then ran his own painting business until selling it in 1982. He also farmed for 30 years, retiring in 1985.

Mr. Felper was a past member of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Surviving are his wife; two daughters, Sandy Kay Vande Kamp and Connie Sanford, both of Marshalltown; one grandson; two brothers, Tom of Saratoga, Iowa, and Bernard of Albion; and one sister, Nora Hamilton of Elkton, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, two sisters, one half-brother and two half-sisters.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Marshalltown.