KICK, Fred 1866-1945

KICK, RUETH, MORSE, PERRY, MOON, LEEPER

Posted By: Betty Hootman-Volunteer
Date: 3/3/2014 at 13:50:39

Services Held Sunday For Mr. Fred Kick

The sudden passing of Fred Kick has thrown a pall of sadness, mingled with a sense of deep loss over the town.

Fred Kick, son of George and Katherine Rueth Kick, was born in Wilroth, Germany, near the river Rhine, on May 1, 1866, and died March 9, 1945, at his home in Farmington, Iowa. He was one of six children.

After the death of his father the family came to the United States, and located in Rock Island, Ill. There he worked for a doctor. His education was received in Germany, but so great was his determination to master the language of his adopted country that he used every opportunity to that effect. Not only from the doctor did he learn to speak the English language, but also from reading and observing closely. A great reader, he read with understanding and appreciation. He worked in drug stores in Rock Island, Fort Madison, Centerville, Marengo, and Independence, Iowa, always keeping in view the ambition to have a drug store of his own.

In 1895 he came to Farmington from Independence and became the proprietor of the well known “Kick’s Drug Store.” Next October would have marked his fiftieth anniversary in business here. George and Ora Duffield of Centerville, for whom Mr. Kick had previously worked, brought him to Farmington, and negotiated the sale of the Dr. J. W. Kirkpatrick drug store to Mr. Kick. He made friends from the first day he opened his business. He liked the people of Farmington, and they liked him. Level-headed, calm, and patient, he enjoyed his contacts with his customers. He has had 65 years in filling prescriptions. During all this time no one dishonorable act has ever marred his record of business, social, or domestic life, for he was a believer in God and righteousness.

His first wife was Mrs. Hattie Morse Perry, who lived but a few years. He was married to Miss Pearl Moon, July 17, 1912. To this union one daughter was born.

He was a member of the Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 27 A.F. and A.M. and a Knights Templar of Keosauqua, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. During the last year he was in failing health. Taken suddenly with a heart attack, he passed away at 3:25 Friday afternoon.

He is survived by his devoted wife, his daughter, Mrs. R. W. Leeper, and a small grandson, George Frederick Leeper, both of Detroit, Mich.; a brother, Anton Kick of Rock Island and a sister, Sister Mary Cleopha, of Joliet, Ill. In the passing of Fred Kick, a loss deeper than the taking off of one of its most efficient business men has come to Farmington and the surrounding country. Kind, thoughtful, sincere, he was always faithful to the standards he considered honest and just. Only the poor, the weak, and the oppressed knew how generously he gave. He heeded the injunction, “Let not thy left hand know.” He helped to smooth the path of life for many. He leaves the memory of fidelity to high principles and best ideals.

The Rev. John S. Ellis, who conducted the funeral services, spoke from Matt. 22:32 “God is not the God of dead, but of the living.”

We quote Rev. Ellis in part as follows:

“These words carry weight with us because they were spoken by the greatest authority on life. What did Jesus mean? Certainly we could say that God was God of all, both the living and the dead. The one thing Jesus could have meant is there are no dead. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were not dead national heroes, but living souls.

“We see only one page of the book of life, Jesus sees both sides. All who have lived are living, all who have worked at tasks still have work to do, all who have lived, now live with greater understanding.

“This is our great comfort in the passing of Mr. Kick. His long years of integrity as a businessman and citizen will be remembered. We shall miss his familiar figure on the street where for fifty years he went in and out of his place of business. But remember what Jesus said, and take comfort in the thought that he is living where there is no death, neither sorrow or crying, nor any more pain. For much more than a half century he had been filling prescriptions with utmost care. We are asking, who can take his place?”

A physician of Philadelphia wrote these lines that express the faith God wants us to have when we lay away our dead.

“I know the night is near at hand;
The mists be low on hill and hay,
The autumn sheaves are dustless, dry,
But I have had the day.

Yes, I have had, dear Lord the day;
When at thy call I have the night,
Brief be the twilight as I pass
From light to dark, from dark to light.”

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 2:00 at the Methodist Church, the Rev. J. S. Ellis, officiating. Interment in the Farmington Cemetery.

Out of town relatives and friends who were at the Kick home Sunday and attended the funeral services were: Mrs. and Mrs. Fred Kick and Mr. and Mrs. Martin Kneff of Rock Island, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Moon and Mrs. Addie Stephenson, Milton; Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Leeper, Waterloo; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Leeper and son, Detroit, Mich.; Mrs. Charles Stephenson, Miss Lydia Montgomery, and Mrs. James --?-- ______cut off___________

Source: Scrapbook of Unknown Origin, page 77