Cordes, William H. 1881-1964

CORDES, JAHLAS, BRYAN, EBERLE, WATKINS, HOWLETT, PRASHAK

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 7/16/2014 at 08:44:13

The Brooklyn (IA) Chronicle
July 30, 1964

W.H. CORDES

William H. Cordes, son of Bruno and Anna Cordes, was born April 6, 1881, in Germany and died July 20, 1964, at his home in Guernsey. He was 83 years old.

At the age of four months, he came with his parents to Iowa and the family settled near Victor. When he was 17 years old the family moved to a farm west of Guernsey.

In 1911 he was married to Freda Jahlas and the couple farmed the home place near Guernsey until 1946 when they retired and moved into Guernsey. Four children were born to the couple.

Mr. Cordes was an active member of the Victor Immanuel church and also of the Methodist church in Guernsey. He took great interest in the community affairs having served on the town council, director of the telephone company, member of the board of education and director of the T.I.P. Rural Electric Cooperative. He was the first rural mail carrier from Guernsey and had also operated a general store. For many years he returned to the farm to assist with the work.

Since suffering a stroke Sept. 22, 1962, Mr. Cordes was partially bedfast and had been hospitalized intermittently in the Marengo Memorial hospital.

Survivors include his wife, Freda; four children, Mrs. Earl (Irene) Bryan of Grinnell, Mrs. Ed (Lila) Eberle of Wichita, Kan., Darrell Cordes of Guernsey and Mrs. Eddie (Wilma) Watkins of Gilman; eight grandchildren; two brothers, Henry Cordes of Miami, Fla., and Edward Cordes of Portland, Ore., and two sisters, Mrs. Fred (Anna) Howlett of Chico, Calif., and Mrs. Joe (Hilda) Prashak of Deep River.

His parents, three brothers and three sisters preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held July 23 at 2:00 p.m. at the McAninch Chapel in Victor with the Rev. Albert Peterson of Ottumwa and the Rev. William Morehouse officiating. Mrs. George Keller, organist, accompanied Arthur Lang singing, "Beyond the Sunset" and "No Night There."

Interment was in Immanuel cemetery with Fred Brandt, Melvin Koehn, Milton Maack, William Jahlas, Jr., Marvin Brandt and Everett Timm serving as pallbearers. In charge of flowers were Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Morton and Mr. and Mrs. George Norden.