Harpster, Denie 1855-1933

HARPSTER, FUSS, DECATUR, NORRIS, CLYNCH, GRAVES

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/10/2013 at 15:02:13

The Grinnell (IA) Herald
Dec. 15, 1933

FUNERAL OF MRS.
HARPSTER IS HELD

A woman beloved and honored through many years of life in Grinnell, reached the end of life's pilgrimage when Mrs. Denie Harpster, widow of J.W. Harpster, passed away at her home, 1219 West street. Mrs. Harpster had passed her seventy-eighth birthday on June 29.

Funeral services were held from the home at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon, conducted by Rev. H.S. Wilkinson. Pallbearers were Hugh McCleery, W.L. Lovejoy of Marshalltown, Charles Manly, Bert Adams, Judson Blakely and George Clifton. Burial was in Hazelwood.

Mrs. Harpster was queen for many years of one of Grinnell's cultured and hospitable homes. She and her husband took an active part in everything that was good in the community life. Mr. Harpster preceded his wife in death by a number of years. She is survived by her four daughters, Mrs. Clarence Decatur and Mrs. Raymond Norris of Grinnell, Mrs. Sarah Mae Clynch of Dowagiac, Mich., and Mrs. Gilbert Graves of El Paso, Texas, all of whom were present at the funeral.

Denie Fuss was born June 29, 1855, in Uniontown, Md., where she spent her girlhood and young womanhood. Early in life, she united with the Lutheran church in Unionbridge (Union Bridge), Md., and later transferred this membership to the Methodist Episcopal church at Sonora, Iowa and still later to the Methodist Episcopal church at Grinnell.

She came to Iowa in 1881 and was married to J.W. Harpster, Feb. 23, 1882, at the D.F. Hays home at Chester Center, Iowa. Their first home was on a farm near the Sonora church. Later, they moved to a home two miles west of Grinnell and in 1908, they moved to Grinnell.

They were the parents of five children: a son, Jesse R., who died in infancy, and four daughters. Mr. Harpster died Feb. 26, 1927, and since then, Mrs. Harpster has continued the home at 1219 West street.

She passed away at 1:30 Tuesday morning and is survived by four daughters and six grandchildren, also by two brothers and one sister in Maryland, two other sisters having passed away during the past year.