Crowder, Harry E. 1903-1979

CROWDER, NAWTON, MATTESON, VANCE, POSTELS, ALLISON, MEHRFOFF

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/10/2010 at 15:25:16

The Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) Nov. 19, 1979

RITES HELD FOR MR. CROWDER

Harry E. Crowder, 76, of 324 Fourth Ave. died Wednesday at Grinnell General Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Philip J. Ramstad, pastor of the Grinnell United Church of Christ-Congregational, officiating. Organist was Kathleen Heffner. Pallbearers were Harry M. Ashby, Dwight Carey, Lawrence Sleeuwenhoek, Roger Tice, Clarence L. VanZee and Delmar VanGorp. Honorary bearers were F. Addison Jones, H. Raymond Light, M.D., Karl L. Lindenmayer, Arthur O. McDowell, Edward A. McNally and Roger D. Roland. Burial was at Hazelwood Cemetery.

Should friends desire, memorials in Mr. Crowder's name may be made to Grinnell General Hospital.

The son of Everett Walter and Mary Elizabeth Nawton Crowder, he was born Jan. 29, 1903, at Cincinnati, Iowa. He attended school in that community, coming to Grinnell at the age of 12 to work on area farms.

At the age of 16, he was associated with the Maplehurst Creamery in Grinnell, later known as the Beatrice Foods Co.

On June 19, 1920, he was married to Mina Matteson at Kellogg. The couple had two daughters.

Mr. Crowder was a member of the Grinnell United Church of Christ-Congregational and was active in civic and community affairs. He had been a member of the Grinnell City Council, the board of directors of Grinnell State Bank, the Iowa Farm Bureau, the Grinnell Elks and Eagles lodges, and the Knights of Pythias. He had served as president of the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce and at one time was active in the Grinnell Rotary Club and the Grinnell Country Club. In 1933, Mr. Crowder founded the Grinnell Beverage Company, Inc., and continued as owner until retiring in 1975. He was owner of Beatrice Foods and was associated with the company until 1960. He owned the Rex Cigar Store for 12 years and was also active in farming.

Survivors include his wife, Mina; his daughters, Mrs. Donald (Norma) Vance of West Des Moines and Mrs. Ned (Reba) Postels of Grinnell; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Edith Crowder in infancy, Mrs. Marble (Agnes) Allison and Mrs. Crissie (Lucille) Mehrfoff.