Black, Oval H. 1905-1991

BLACK, ORD, STEMSRUD, DANNENHAUER, HASKINS, NEFF

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 8/25/2014 at 17:45:06

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
May 13, 1991

OVAL H. BLACK

Oval H. Black, 86, died Tuesday, May 7, at University Hospitals in Iowa City of kidney failure.

Funeral services were held Friday, May 10, at the Grinnell Christian Church with John Epperson, pastor of the church, officiating. Organist was Sue Martindale and vocal music was by Marlene Toney. Pallbearers were Jeff Latz, Dale Stecker, Danny Stecker, Raymond Stecker, Curtis Stemsrud and David Westercamp. Honorary bearers were Ron Bair, Dean Clark, Harold Cocking, Verl Garwood, Winston Hamilton, David Heise, Royce Hutton, Bob Kinnaird, Leonard Latcham, Dave Sears, Roy Van Draska and Clarence Lillie. Fraternal rites were conducted by the Newton Masonic Lodge. Burial was in Pleasant Township Cemetery at Ewart. Memorials may be made to the Grinnell Christian Church and sent in care of Smith Funeral Home.

The son of Benjamin and Martha Ord Black, he was born May 2, 1905, at Ashland, Ill. The family moved to Kahoka, Mo., where he attended rural school. He later worked on construction crews near his home.

He was married to Mildred Stemsrud May 9, 1930, in Davenport. Following their marriage he worked as a construction foreman and constructed cement grain storage bins and dams in the midwest. The couple lived at Kellogg before moving to a farm near Ewart. They farmed from 1942 to 1965 when they moved to Grinnell and operated Black Real Estate Company until their retirement in 1984.

He was a member of the Grinnell Christian Church, the Newton Masonic Lodge, the Grinnell Lions Club and the Grinnell Elks Lodge.

He is survived by his wife Mildred Black, Grinnell, and one sister Bessie Dannenhauer, Keosauqua. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Joe Black and Arnold Black, and two sisters, Evalena Haskins and Maxine Neff.