IRELAN, Curtis Glen "Pete" : Died 1977

IRELAN, HUDGENS, HUNTER, HADLEY, SCOTT, BLANKENHORN, WELLS, BIRCHER, MULVANY

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 12/21/2020 at 14:09:08

Curtis Glen (Pete) Irelan

Curtis Glen (Pete) Irelan was born December 1, 1906, in Drakesville, Iowa, to Francis Marion and Susan Hudgens Irelan. He was one of 12 children born to the couple. He was raised, educated and spent most of his life in the county. He graduated from the Bloomfield High School. Pete also attended and graduated from the Chillicothe Business College.

August 19, 1932, Pete and Gerata Hunter were united in marriage in Bloomfield, Iowa. Pete Gerata had three children: Norman who died at birth, Jane and Patrick.

Pete was by profession a railroad man and a farmer. He was proud of both those facts. He was a Railway Telegraph Operator and enjoyed being good at his job. He liked to take the train orders and handle them which he did very well. He also loved farming, especially working with cattle. He seemed to be at his best and happiest when taking care of cattle and seeing to their comfort. He loved to be out of doors whether in the fields or woods. Solitude was very important to him. He didn't like to be alone all the time, but there were times when he did, and his was when he was able to get a lot of work done. Pete was an extremely honest and unsentimental person. He wanted people to know where he stood. He was tough, quick tempered, affectionate and passionate. He possessed an open and good sense of humor. He valued his family connections and was proud of the Irelan family name.

Pete died quite suddenly, Wednesday, November 16, 1977, in the midst of a work project at his home. There had been no forewarning. He died as he lived, vigorously.

Preceding him in death were his parents, two brothers, Charles and Clayton; and two sisters, Jane Bircher and Afra Mulvany.

Remaining to remember him are his wife and two living children; three granddaughters, Lisa Jane, Sara Jane and Jill Ann Hadley. Also surviving are four brothers: Cliff of Newton, Iowa, Claude of Des Moines, Iowa, Carl of Algona, Iowa, and Clell of Ottumwa, Iowa; and three sisters, Ann Scott of Topeka, Kansas; Ruth Blankenhorn of Ottumwa, Iowa, and Blanch Wells of Bloomfield, Iowa.

Pete will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Pete will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Funeral services were held Saturday, November 19, 1977, at the Bloomfield Christian Church, Bloomfield, Iowa, conducted by the Rev. Dwight Messenger. Interment was in Hopewell Cemetery, near Ash Grove, Iowa.

Source: "The Hazel Stanford Obituary Collection", Pg. 111, Keosauqua Public Library,
Keosauqua, IA