Jacob B. "Jake" Kooser (1860-1940)

KOOSER, HUNTER, TURNER, DODDS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 11/1/2024 at 14:24:59

From Nevada Evening Journal February 19, 1940 (page 2)

Funeral Services Held Today for J. B. "Jake" Kooser

Special to the Journal:
Ames, Feb. 19--Funeral services were held at 2 p. m. today for J. B. Kooser, 80, native son of Story county, who dropped dead at the State gymnasium at Iowa State College, Friday evening, at the close of the Iowa-Nebraska wrestling contest. Burial was in charge of the Masonic lodge at the Gilbert cemetery.

Mr. Kooser, popularly known as "Jake" to hundreds of friends, was a regular spectator at college and high school sport events, and despite his advanced age had followed sports events at the two schools closely during recent years.

Born Jan. 11, 1860 in a log cabin south of the Pleasant Grove Methodist church which still stands near Soper's mill. Mr. Kooser attended the early Milford township school nearby.

After working for several years on farms in the vicinity, he went to Crawford, Neb., where he was employed in a general store. In December 1888 he returned to marry Ella Ann Hunter of north of Ames, and the couple moved to Crawford where they resided for six years.

Returning to Ames in 1894, Mr. Kooser was employed in stores here until he went into partnership in a grocery store with Tommy Miller in 1898.

He was in the grocery business until 1914, and while in business he served on the city council, representing the first ward, from 1902 to 1904. In 1914 he sold out his grocery store and for a time sold insurance. He was then manager of the men's department of Tilden's store for eight years.

During the past several years he had served as custodian of the Masonic temple.

An active Mason since joining the organization here in 1905, Mr. Kooser was a member of the Arcadia Lodge, Chapter, Council, Commandery, and Eastern Star and White Shrine. He was a member of the Ames Methodist church.

Mrs. Kooser died Feb. 12, 1934. Surviving are two sons, Earl H. and Ronald; a daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Turner, all of Ames; three brothers, J. Burton Kooser and Charles F. Kooser of Ames, and Marcellus of Waterloo, and a sister, Mrs. T. B. Dodds of Clinson, Minn. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Ann and Georgette Turner, Phillips, Raymond and Ronald Kooser, and Sally Jane and Shirley Jean Kooser.