Karr, John Randall 1882-1962 & Mary Johnston Family

KARR, JOHNSTON

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/19/2023 at 07:21:56

Karr, John Randall Karr 1882-1962 & Mary ‘Mamie’ Johnston Family

This story was taken from page 421 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added.

The oldest child of Alexander Scott Karr was John Randall Karr. Randall and Mary Mae “Mamie” (Johnston) were united in marriage on Feb. 3, 1909. After homesteading in Colorado for two years, Randall and Mamie returned to Iowa to farm and spend the remainder of their lives. To this marriage were born 6 sons: Hollis, Leland, Thurlow, Lyman, Weston and Kenyon. Randall served as Washington Twp. school board secretary for 22 years and Mamie served as a member of the Sioux Co. School Board for 33 years. This family has settled in various parts of the U.S. with a wide variety of occupations. Hollis and Kenyon are local Ireton farmers. Randall died Apr. 2, 1962 and Mamie resides in Brentwood Nursing Home in LeMars, Ia. They were active in the Presbyterian Church.

OBITUARY OF JOHN RANDALL KARR
Source: Hawarden Independent (4-5-1962)
Funeral Services For J.R. at Ireton Today
Funeral services for John Randall,79, widely known Ireton farmer and stockman who died unexpectedly Monday morning after suffering a heart attack at his home two and one-half west miles of Ireton, will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon (Thursday) at the Presbyterian church in Ireton. Rev. Roy Smith of Hinton and Rev. James Ransom of Le Mars will officiate. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill cemetery under the direction of the Satterlee Funeral home. The six sons will serve as pall bearers.
Mr. Karr was a resident of Ireton most of his life, having been born on a farm north of Town September 6, 1882. He attended rural schools in Eagle township, was graduated from Ireton high school and attended college at Tarkio, MO. As a young man he and a partner operated clothing store at Ireton and Pocahontas. After marrying Mary Mamie Johnston of Ireton there February 3, 1909, the couple made their home in eastern Colorado for two years before returning to Ireton.
He served on the Sioux county board of education for 42 years and served on the building committees for a number of rural school in this county. He was a member of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Karr still farmed with his son Hollis, at home, and another son Kenyon, who with his wife and family live in another house on the same farm.
Survivors include the widow; six sons, Lyman of Roanoke, VA., Leland of Chicago, Thurlow of Gary, Ind., Weston of Le Mars, and Hollis and Kenyon of rural Ireton; a sister, Mrs. Mabel Ericson of Des Moines; a brother, Alvin, of Le Mars, and 12 grandchildren.

OBITUARY OF MARY MAE KARR
Hawarden Independent of Oct 1, 1981
Mrs. J. Randall Karr, 93, of Ireton, died Friday, Sept. 25 in a LeMars nursing home. Services were held at 2 ,p.m. Monday in the Dow Funeral Home at Ireton. The Rev. James Ransom officiated. Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. There was a prayer service at 7 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

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