Joseph Donaldson (1872-1944)

DONALDSON, BOYS, LYNCH, KAUFMAN, HEINTZ, COOK, SANDWELL, MINEART

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Evening Journal June 17, 1944 (page 3)

Last Rites Held This Morning For Joseph Donaldson

Funeral rites for Joseph Donaldson, 72, well known Richland township farmer, who passed away Wednesday morning at 10:15 at Mary Greeley hospital in Ames, following a heart illness and other complications, were held this morning at 9 o'clock at St. Patrick's Catholic church.

Father James D. Mahoney was in charge of the services which were largely attended by relatives and friends, assembled to pay their last tribute of love and respect to one who had lived in the community for over 30 years, been devoted to his family, faithful to the teachings of his church, a highly respected citizen, a good neighbor and valued friend.

The Reverend N. A. Steffen of Ames and the Reverend D. A. Thomas of Webster City, former pastors of the deceased, were the sanctuary and assisted with the last rites.

Members of the choir of St. Patrick's church sang the requiem high mass and appropriate hymns. Mrs. Reis Prati was at the organ.

The pall bearers were Frank Meiman, Ben Ackerman, Lew Heintz, Adolph Greiner, Chas. Breen and M. Prati. Burial was in St. Patrick's Cemetery.

The death of Mr. Donaldson followed an illness which dated from May 26 when he suffered a heart attack at his home. He was taken to the hospital May 29 and everything done for him in the way of skilled nursing and expert medical care without avail. Previous to his attack on May 26th he had apparently been in his usual health and had actively been attending to his farm duties.

The body was first taken to the Morfoot mortuary and later to the home north of Nevada where the Rosary service was conducted by Father Mahoney Friday evening at 8 o'clock.

Joseph Donaldson was born July 10, 1872 at Philo, Champaign county, Ill., a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Donaldson. His father was a native of Ireland and his mother was born in Canada.

He grew to manhood on a farm near Urbana, Ill. He was married in the Catholic church in Urbana on Sept. 6, 1904 to Miss Stella Boys. They would have celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary this fall.

Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson started farming near Urbana where they lived until coming to Story county in 1910. They lived upon the Furnas estate farm until 1923 when they purchased the farm six mile north of Nevada which has been the Donaldson home since that time.

Five children were born to Mrs. and Mrs. Donaldson, four of whom, with the wife and mother survive. The second daughter, Theresa, Mrs. Francis Lynch of Eagle Grove, passed away in 1937. The surviving children included the three daughters, Velma, Mrs. Andrew Kaufman; Marie, Mrs. Fred Heintz, Genevieve, Mrs. Eugene Cook, and the only son, Francis Donaldson, all of Nevada.

He also leaves eight grandchildren, Donald, Mary Jean, Dickie, and Jurene Kaufman; Joie and Norman Heintz, Keneth and Nicholas Cook.

Mr. Donaldson is also survived by one brother, Pete Donaldson of Nevada, and four sisters, Miss Sadie Donaldson of Nevada, Mrs. John Sandwell of Philo, Ill., Mrs. Vincent Mineart of Pleasant Plain, Ia., and Miss Helen Donaldson, R. N., of Urbana, Ill., all of whom had been here during his last illness.

He is also survived by a half-sister, now 82 years oaf age, who has been a Sister of the Good Shepherd for many years, Sister Magdalen of St. Brigid of the Monastery of St. Mary Magdalen, at Indianapolis, Ind.

Mr. Donaldson had been for years a trustee of St. Patrick's church of which he had been a faithful member. The large number attending the last rites this morning and the many acts of kindness extended the family are expressions of the esteem in which the deceased was held in the community in which he lived as a good neighbor and served for over a quarter of a century.

The sympathy of a wide circle of friends is being extended at this time to Mrs. Donaldson and her family and to the other relatives in the death of this good man.