Reifert, Leonard F. 1894-1941

REIFERT, COLLINS, BESTE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/15/2022 at 08:00:34

From the Alton Democrat, February 21, 1941:

ALTON MAN VICTIM OF HEART ATTACK
L. F. REIFERT SUDDENLY STRICKEN
Furniture Salesman Dies On Street At Paullina

The sudden death of Leonard F. Reifert on Monday, February 17th, shocked and saddened the Alton community. He was stricken with a heart attack at Paullina, where he had just had noonday lunch with Mr. Cowen of the furniture store there. He had opened the back of his car trunk preparatory to showing the dealer some rug samples, when he fell backwards into the arms of Mr. Cowen, expiring instantly. He had a severe siege of influenza during the holidays but had apparently recovered completely.

Leonard F. Reifert was born at Hartington, Nebr., on April 2, 1894, and would have been 47 years of age next April. He attended the parochial school at Hartington and later studied embalming in Omaha. During the last World war he enlisted in the U.S. Marines and served from June 18th, 1918 to Aug. 18th, 1919, with the 4th Brigade, 2nd Division, A.E.F. After the Armistice he was with the army of occupation in Germany.

After his honorable discharge he became associated with his brothers in the furniture and undertaking business at Hartington and Crofton, Nebr. When the business at Crofton was closed in 1920 he became salesman for a Sioux City wholesale furniture company. Later he moved to Alton to be in the center of his territory and soon thereafter became associated with J. W. Allen in the Allen Furniture store at Alton. After the dissolving of that partnership he again went on the road and was salesman for the Hopper Furniture Co. at the time of his death.

He married Miss Lucille Collins of Coleridge, Nebr., at Omaha on Feb. 12th, 1920, and is survived by his wife and three daughters: Vera of Moville; Rita and little Mary Gail at home; by three brothers and three sisters, namely: Fred of New York City; George and Ralph, Miss Clara and Miss Lucille, all of Hartington; and Mrs. B. F. Balder of Ashland, Nebr.

He was a devoted family man, genial and friendly; a favorite with all, and will be missed by hundreds of friends who sympathize deeply with the bereaved family. He was a member of the local American Legion, who tendered military honors at the services Wednesday morning at St. Marty’s Catholic church. Interment was in the family plot at Hartington. Fred Reifert of New York arrived here Wednesday morning and other members of the family on Monday and Tuesday.

A group of Floyd Post Legionnaires, members of the firing squad, went to Hartington to assist in the burial rites Thursday morning and a number of other friends also drove over for the services.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Cedar County News (Hartington, Nebraska), February 20, 1941, published an article on his military funeral there. The text is in rather bad condition. It gives no additional family or career information.

His death certificate (informant George Reifert, Hartington) adds his parents, Fred Reifert and Anna Beste, both born in Germany; died at 12 noon, February 17, 1941; cause, cerebral apoplexy, duration 20 minutes; due to cerebral vascular lesion of undetermined nature.

His FindaGrave.com page shows him buried in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Hartington, and includes a photo of his headstone with his name, death date, and military service (Pvt. 6 Regt. U.S.M.C. 2 Div.). No family information.

His World War I draft registration card (Cedar, Nebraska, June 1917) shows him, age 23, as a resident of Hartington, single, a furniture salesman, not employed at present; tall, medium build, brown hair, brown eyes.

U.S. Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists on Ancestry.com show him incoming on the George Washington, as a Private, U.S.M.C., 78th (E) Co. 6th Marines, service number 4607587, sailing from Brest, France, on July 25, 1919, arriving at Hoboken, N.J. August 3, 1919.

The 1940 U.S. census shows the two daughters at home as Rita Ann (17) and Gail (3).