Coon, Estelle 1874-1963

COON, PARKS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/7/2013 at 17:08:33

The Brooklyn (IA) Chronicle; Feb. 21, 1963

ESTELLE COON, FORMER
POSTMASTER HERE, DIES

Estelle Coon, last member of a pioneer family of this community, died Friday at St. Francis hospital in Grinnell where she had been taken five days earlier. She was 89 years old.

Born at Brooklyn Jan. 5, 1874, she had spent her entire life in this community, where she had long been active in public affairs. Her parents, Andrew L. and Mary Parks Coon, came to Brooklyn from Ohio in 1861. Her father followed his trade of saddle and harness making for several years before turning to farming a mile north of Brooklyn.

Miss Coon attended rural schools and was a member of the 1891 graduating class of Brooklyn High School. She taught in rural schools and in the Brooklyn grade school until 1906 when she was elected county superintendent of schools on the Democratic ticket, with the exception of a single term, she held the office for 23 years.

Shortly after leaving the county superintendent's office, she was appointed Brooklyn postmaster, a position she held for 15 years before retiring from public service.

She was a member of the Presbyterian church and the Pythian Sisters and Rebekah lodges of Brooklyn.

Her parents, seven brothers and a sister preceded her in death. Surviving relatives include four nieces and two nephews.

Funeral services, conducted by the Rev. G.H. Hulsebus, pastor of First United Presbyterian church, were at Bramer Funeral Home here at 2 p.m. Monday. Mrs. Ed Bartachek was organist. Interment was in Brooklyn I.O.O.F. cemetery.

Pallbearers were Glenn Connell, Andrew Calderwood, E.L. Montgomery, Howard Sherwood, Arnold Benda and J.L. McCluskey.

In charge of flowers were Mr. and Mrs. Don Coburn and Donnie.