WHITMORE, Gerry E.: Died 1962

WHITMORE, SCHMIDT, GREENFIELD, OVERSTREET, BUGEON

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 1/20/2017 at 14:52:09

**Handwritten: 1962

Gerry E. Whitmore

Gerry E. Whitmore was born on a farm near Bonaparte, Iowa, Jan. 3, 1870 and departed this life Tuesday, Feb. 13, 1962, at the Van Buren County Memorial Hospital in Keosauqua at the age of 92.

He received his early education in a country school and Bonpaparte High School where, after attending college and teaching, he returned to be a member of the first graduating class in 1891.

On June 1894, he was married to Flora A. Schmidt, who died in 1948. A daughter died in infancy. Three brothers, Herbert, Bruce and Erwin preceded him in death.

Mr. Whitmore was a teacher and builder, and with his father operated brick yards at Bonaparte and Bentonsport. He taught in Van Buren and Jefferson counties and was principal of Keosauqua High School. He and his family lived in Fairfield for fifteen years.

In 1919 they moved to Chicago where he was in the real estate business until he retired in 1941. Shortly thereafter he moved back to Bonaparte where he resided until going to Douds to live with his daughter, Marie, and her husband, Roy Greenfield.

For six years he was mayor of Bonaparte. He was a member of Starlight Lodge NO. 350, K. of P. and Celestial Lodge No. 413, A.F.&A.M., both of Douds; and the Royal Arch Masons of Bonaparte. For many years he was secretary of the Bonaparte Masonic Lodge.

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Marie Greenfield of Douds, Mrs. Winifred Overstreet of Evanston, Ill., and Mrs. Evaline Bugeon of Chicago; two sons, Roscoe Whitmore of Libertyville, and Hazard C. Whitmore of Albuquerque, New Mexico; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at Christ Methodist Church in Doud, with the Rev. Richard Eis of Milton and the Rev. Lowell Hoyal, local pastor, officiating. Masonic rites were in charge of Celestial Lodge. Vocalists were Mrs. Ralph Lepper and Mrs. Robert Pedrick, accompanied by Mrs. Garold Hughes. Bearers were William Sherod, Delber Plowman, George Sellers, Asa Fellows, Wallace Plowman and Stanley Barker. Interment was in the Oak Lawn Cemetery at Keosauqua. Arrangements were in charge of Pedrick Funeral Home.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book H, Page 74, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA