Dempster, John J. 1873-1948

DEMPSTER, BURCH, GREER, FISHER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 7/29/2010 at 07:18:23

Grinnell Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) June 24, 1948

JOHN J. DEMPSTER

John J. Dempster, son of John E. and Esther Burch Dempster, was born in Scott county, Iowa, June 29, 1873. He passed away in Grinnell on June 18, 1948, lacking eleven days of being 75 years of age.

He attended the neighborhood school at Lynn Grove and studied for two years at the Epworth academy at Farley, Iowa, where he took part in the musical activities and cultural advantages of the school.

In 1900 the Dempster family moved to Chester township, in Poweshiek county, where some members of that family continued to live for more than forty years.

He was married to Nellie E. Greer, daughter of James and Mary Jane Greer at Eldridge, in Scott county, on Jan. 8, 1902. To this union were born two sons, John Gaylord and Keith Greer.

He served for many years as school director and chairman of the township school board and took a deep and active interest in community improvements, especially county roads and church building. As a member of the choir of the Chester Congregational church he gave willing and faithful service. He was one of the organizers of Chester township Farm Bureau and a charter member acting in many official capacities within that group. For many years he served as a director of the Farmer's Elevator at Newburg, and on the board of the Poweshiek-Jasper Farm Service company, two of those years as chairman of the board.

After 40 years in Chester township, Mr. and Mrs. Dempster moved to a new home five miles west of Grinnell, in Jasper county, where Mr. Dempster continued active in community work.

He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife, Nellie E., sons Gaylord and Keith G., and his grandchildren, John Lynn and Janice Gwendolyn, Keith Willard and Rita Fran Dempster. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. Emma Fisher and a half sister, Miss Edna Dempster. One sister, Mary, and two half brothers, Alden and Roscoe, preceded him in death.

Present from out of town at the funeral were Mrs. Emma Fisher, who has been with her daughter in Denver, Mrs. Howard Martin, daughter Mary Ellen and son Sam, Wilbur Sherman and daughters, Mrs. Edith Berg and Mrs. Bernice Homan and son Keith of Pelican Rapids, Minn., Mrs. Hettie Meyer and daughter Irene of Davenport, Mrs. Nell Duffin of Moline, Ill., Mrs. Frank Sherman of Altoona, Mr. and Mrs. M.A. Kinnamon of Cresco, Frank Gilmar and son Jack of Donahue, Ia., and Mr. and Mrs. Vern Dan Schmidt of Traer.