Robert Samuel McGinnis (1878-1944)

MCGINNIS, HOLLOWAY, CONRATH, BOCK, WRIGHT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:14

From Nevada Evening Journal November 21, 1944

Funeral Services For R. S. McGinnis Held on Sunday

Funeral services for Robert S. McGinnis, 66, Grant township farmer who passed away very suddenly on Thursday from acute indigestion about 3 p. m. were held from the Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada Sunday afternoon at 1:30 with the Reverend O. E. Cooley officiating.

Mrs. Ansel Freeland sang "Rock of Ages" and "Crossing the Bar." She was accompanied by Mrs. Norman Dobson. The many beautiful floral pieces were silent testimony to the respect and esteem in which the deceased was held in the community.

The pallbearers were LeRoy Jones, J. W. Bates, James Hynes, Harley Elliott, Joe Slinker and Frank Kirk.

Burial was at Linden, Iowa, with the Reverend H. G. Quandt, Methodist Minister at Linden, in charge of the committal services.

Among those from a distance in attendance at the last rites were Mrs. Frank Smith of Chicago, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Orville Burnham, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Burnham and Mrs. Dorothy Gibson of Linden; Miss Lucille Burnham and Norma Ruth Burnham of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. George McGinnis of Adel; Mr. and Ms. Sam Wright of Bourbon, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. Lester McGinnis of Indianola; Mr. and Mrs. Norman Andrew, Mrs. Rhea Martin and Mrs. Henry Holloway of Jefferson and Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Burr and two children of Mitchellville.

The following life sketch of the deceased was read by Rev. Cooley at the funeral services:

"Robert S. McGinnis, son of George and Nancy McGinnis, was born at LeRoy, Ill. Sept. 23, 1878. Passed away at his home South of Nevada on November 16, 1944.

On June 24, 1903 he was married to Gertrude Holloway. The marriage taking place at Linden, Iowa. To this union four children were born, Gerald R. of Wichita, Kans., Howard S. of Chicago, Ill, Mrs. Joe Conrath of Calumet City, Ill. and Mrs. Edwin Bock of Garner, Iowa.

Besides his wife and four children he leaves five grand children. Also one sister Mrs. Sam Wright of Bourbon, Ind. One brother John McGinnis of Rossville, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis started their married life on a farm near the place they were married and where the four children were born. Ten years ago they moved to Story County. Since that time Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis have lived on their farm southwest of Nevada.

Up to the very last hour of his life Mr. McGinnis was active and was busily engaged in the various duties on his farm. Death came suddenly even before the services of a physician could be secured.

He was a member of the Nevada Methodist Church and attended regularly. He was also a member of the men's Sunday School Class.

Mr. McGinnis was industrious and the farm he owned and cared for showed the result of his industry and constant care. Some shall remember him as an obligating neighbor, others as a devoted member of the church. To the family he will be remembered as a devoted father and companion. He exemplified much of what we recognize as the true christian spirit.

In our way of thinking he died too soon and yet he die a man's work on earth and he was at his task when the summons came. God must have needed him since God called him from a task on earth which from our viewpoint was not completed."