Allen John Baumgardner (1876-1950)

BAUMGARDNER, MATISON, SCHAUPER, LARSON, HALL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal June 3, 1950 (page 3)

Last Rites For A. J. Baumgardner Held on Monday

Funeral services for the late Allen J. Baumgardner, whose death Friday, May 26 came suddenly following a few days illness from a heart ailment, were held Monday afternoon at 2 p. m. at Central Presbyterian church with Rev. James D. Ransom, officiating.

The front of the church was literally banked with flowers and in addition there were many memorial offerings, all of which testified to the high esteem in which the deceased was held. The arrangement of the flowers was in charge of Mrs. Kenneth Kinsey, Mrs. Jack Slemmons, and Mrs. Frank Ambrose.

Organ music was played preceding and following the service.

The casket bearers were M. L. Coover, Carl E. Stone, Frank Ambrose, Maurice Britten, Walter Smay and Howard Hilburn.

Burial was in the Nevada cemetery.

The following obituary was read by Rev. Ransom.

Allen John Baumgardner was born near McCallsburg, Story County, Iowa on September 25, 1876 an passed away at Nevada, Iowa on May 26, 1950 at the age of 73 years, 8 months and 1 day. He was the son of Fredric J. and Mary Elizabeth Baumgardner, who were pioneer residents of Warren Township, Story County, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Otis and Lester, and one sister, Mrs. Julia Schauper. Two brothers and one sister survive him. These are Bert and Roy Baumgardner of McCallsburg, Iowa and Gertie Larson of Marshalltown, Iowa.

He was married to Miss Mildred Matison at McCallsburg, Iowa on December 19th, 1900. To this marriage five children were born, one, a daughter, having died at birth, one son, Fredric, who died at the age of four years and a daughter, Freda, who died at the age of seventeen years, Lyle E. Baumgardner, a son, and Sina, a daughter, now Mrs. Oscar Hall, who with his wife, Mildred, all of Nevada, Iowa, survive. He is also survived by three grandsons, Fredric Charles Hall, James Marion Hall and Dennis Lynn Baumgardner.

Until the Autumn of 1927 his chief occupation was that of farming in the vicinity of McCallsburg. The family moved to Nevada in the Autumn of 1927, where Mr. Baumgardner served as Chief of Police of Nevada for about two years. His principal occupation, however, since coming to Nevada has been that of a carpenter and builder. He was an efficient, painstaking and honest workman. In finer wood-craft he was an artisan. He worked different periods at his trade with the late Joe Phillips, Frank McKim and Walter Smay.

In early life he joined the Presbyterian Church at McCallsburg and served that church for many years as an elder and was active in the various church enterprises. On moving to Nevada his membership transferred to the Central Presbyterian Church of Nevada, of which he was a faithful member up to the time of his passing.

He believed implicitly in the things that the Church stands for. He made no loud pretentions, but tried to live quietly and humbly the life of a Christian. So far as it was possible he lived peaceably with all men.

As an avocation he loved the outdoor life of field and stream. In season most of his after-work hours were spent in his garden of vegetables and flowers. He was always interested in out-of-door sports and gained some distinction as an expert in markmanship. He was much attached to his home and family and was at the time of his departure anticipating the coming fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, which would have occurred on December 19, 1950.

From A Distance

Among the many here from a distance in attendance at the last rites were a group of cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Baumgardner and Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Berkey from Walnut, Ill.; cousins from Ottumwa, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Warder, Mrs. Mabel Muldoon, Mrs. Art Shaw and Mrs. Howard Giltner; Mr. and Mrs. Will Decker and Mr. George Decker of Hedrick.

Mrs. Don Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. M. T. Scott, Mrs. Lola Raggsdale, Mrs. Dwight Brown and Mrs. C. Smith of Des Moines; Mrs. E. Dempsey and Mrs. C. R. Godfredsen of Ringsted; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Sundeen of Boone, Mrs. Gene Pearson of Hampton, Mr. and Mr. Art Mathison of Ames and many friends from McCallsburg and elsewhere.