Clarence J. AITKEN

AITKEN, HANNA

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 7/10/2011 at 19:22:53

Clearfield Enterprise
Clearfield, Iowa
Thursday, October 15, 1936, p. 3

NOTICE of DEATH ~ CLARENCE J. AITKEN

The burial of the late Clarence AITKEN will be at Promise City, and the party will leave at about 12:30 today for that place.

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Clearfield Enterprise
Clearfield, Iowa
Thursday, October 22, 1936, p. 1

OBITUARY ~ CLARENCE J. AITKEN

Clarence J. AITKEN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry (Clara Mae HANNA) AITKEN, was born April 21, 1901, at Plano, Ia. and departed this life at the home of his father, in Bedford, Iowa, on October 13, 1936, aged 35 years, 5 months, and 22 days, from an illness that had impaired his health for many years.

In 1912, at the age of 11 years, Clarence came with his parents to Clearfield, where he grew up to manhood, graduating with the Class of 1919 from the Clearfield High School.

For two years following his graduation from high school, he attended Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa, and returning from Ames, he assisted his father in [a] general mercantile store in Clearfield for some time until he took a position with the Burlington Railway at Creston.

However, after a year at this work, Clarence was taken ill and for months battled the disease that seemed certain to claim his life but apparently having overcome his sickness, he returned to Clearfield, to be the assistant postmaster for his father who was then postmaster. In 1928 he went to Des Moines to attend Business College, where he continued his Civil Service work - after a year in the post office at Mount Ayr. In 1930 he transferred to the Post Office Dept. at Des Moines and has since continued with the Service until a little while before his death.

Clarence was very proficient in his work, and had gained many promotions in his line.

Some few weeks ago he became too ill to be at his desk, and was brought to the home of his folks in Bedford, where all that loving hands could do was done that his comfort might be complete, but the human body could not resist the disease — and he answered his Master's call to the beautiful land beyond to join his mother and sister who had preceded him in death.

Clarence was a member of the Methodist Church of Clearfield, a young man of Christian character and influence, always highly respected and loved by friends and associates wherever he may have chanced to be.

He leaves to mourn his passing his father and step-mother, Mr. and Mrs. Harry AITKEN, of Bedford, Iowa; one brother and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Harold AITKEN, of Lima, Ohio; one sister, Florence, of Des Moines, other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held on Thursday at 10:30 at Clearfield Methodist church. Pastor W. C. HANN spoke from "It is finished." Singing was by a quartet, with a solo by Mrs. Opal WILLIAMS, a schoolmate of the deceased.

His fellow workers in the postal service were present and some of them were pallbearers. Interment was at Promise City, Iowa.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2011