McIlrath, John W. 1897-1982

MCILRATH, HOUSEMAN, MILLIGAN, HUFFORD, ELBERTSEN, KING, TEW, STEWARD, JACK, CLAYBROOK, THARP, ANTHONY, MAURER, FULLER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/11/2010 at 09:04:24

Grinnell Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) April 8, 1982

MR. MCILRATH RITES TODAY

John W. McIlrath, 84, of 539 Tenth Ave., Grinnell, died Sunday afternoon, April 4, at Grinnell General Hospital.

Funeral services were conducted at 1:30 p.m. today at the Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Sam Reaves, pastor of the Grinnell Assembly of God Church, officiating. Organist was Naomi Reaves. Pallbearers were Curtis Heinselman, Danny L. King, David J. King, Donald D. King II, Dennis E. McIlrath, Robert L. McIlrath, Bruce Ryan and Randall J. Tew. Honorary bearers were Ervin Claus, Eldon Gerard, Roy S. Mushrush, Gordon Roorda, Louis Smith and Harry Tinnermeier. Burial was at Prairie View Cemetery, Gilman.

Memorials in Mr. McIlrath's name may be made to the Grinnell Assembly of God Church building fund and left at the Smith Funeral Home.

The son of James Paul and Elizabeth Houseman McIlrath, he was born Dec. 4, 1897, on a farm near Newburg. He attended rural schools near Newburg. On Jan. 1, 1918, he was married to Cora Jane Milligan, who preceded him in death on April 23, 1946. He had farmed in the Newburg and Chester areas for many years and was a member of the board of directors of the Jasper County Farm Mutual insurance in Newton and the board of directors of the Gilman Co-op Elevator. He attended the Grinnell Assembly of God Church.

On Aug. 4, 1947, he was married to Bertha Hufford Elbertsen in Grinnell. The couple farmed west of Grinnell for eight years, then retired from farming and moved to Grinnell in 1971.

Mr. McIlrath is survived by his wife, Bertha; his daughter, Alberta King of Grinnell; two step-daughters, Bonnie Tew of Grinnell and Doris Steward of Marshalltown; 14 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; five sisters, Elizabeth Jack, Emma Claybrook, Mabel Tharp, Ruby McIlrath and Lucille Anthony, all of Grinnell, and a brother, Harley McIlrath of Grinnell.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Cora; a brother, James, in infancy; and a half-sister, Sarah Maurer; two sons, John and James McIlrath; and a daughter, Helen Fuller.