KIMZEY, Albert H. (1923-2009)

KIMZEY

Posted By: Shirley Keating (email)
Date: 4/30/2009 at 16:44:17

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
April 1, 2009

JAKE KIMZEY, INDIANOLA

Albert Henry “Jake” Kimzey, 85, of the Good Samaritan Home in Indianola and longtime former resident of New Virginia, died March 24, 2009, at the Hospice of Central Iowa Kavanagh House on 56th Street in Des Moines.

Funeral services were held Saturday, March 28, at the New Virginia United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jerry Kramer officiating. Burial was at New Virginia Cemetery with a military flag presentation conducted by American Legion Virginia Post 281 of New Virginia. A Masonic service was conducted Friday, March 27, at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola by Neophyte Lodge 301 AF & AM of New Virginia. Memorials may be directed to American Legion Virginia Post 281 or Neophyte Lodge 301 AF & AM. Online condolences may be sent to www.overtonfunerals.com .

Jake Kimzey was born May 26, 1923, to Claude Wesley and Margaret Ruth (Shoup) Kimzey of rural New Virginia and was a 1940 graduate of New Virginia Consolidated High School. His marriage to Barbara Jean Hilton took place Nov. 3, 1951, at the Ft. Des Moines Methodist Church. As a young man, Jake worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps. After graduation, he moved to the San Diego, Calif., area to work as a riveter in an aircraft factory. Jake was a veteran of the United States Army Air Corps, serving as a radio operator and gunner on a B-17 with the 464th AAF Battalion Unit in Europe. Following his discharge from the Army Air Corps, he delivered trailers and worked on a bridge painting crew. In 1954, he assumed operation of the Standard Oil Tank Wagon Service in New Virginia — delivering heating oil, gasoline and other fuels. In 1964, Jake began a long career as a rural letter carrier for the United States Postal Service. He was the mailman for New Virginia Rural Route 1 for 27 years, retiring in the fall of 1990. During that time, he also raised black Angus cattle on the family farm. His memberships included New Virginia United Methodist Church, American Legion Virginia Post 281 (61 years), and Masonic Order - Neophyte Lodge 301 AF & AM (59 years). He served the city of New Virginia as its town clerk and was the former secretary and treasurer for the Virginia Manor Corp. He also was a real estate broker for the former Kimzey Real Estate of New Virginia and was involved in several real estate projects in New Virginia.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Lois Stuart; two brothers, Claude Kimzey Jr. and Ronald “Squirt” Kimzey; and a granddaughter, Kassia Lehmer.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, of Indianola; two daughters, Tala Lehmer of Clive and Renee Stephens of Indianola; one son, Mark Kimzey of Mt. Pleasant; two sisters, Doris Raney of Clifton Hills, Mo., and Joanne Chandler of Davenport; a brother, Jerry Kimzey of Phoenix, Ariz.; and four grandchildren, two stepgrandsons and three great-grandchildren.

Obituary from The Des Moines Register newspaper, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA on 3-26-2009:
Albert Henry "Jake" Kimzey, 85, of New Virginia, IA, died Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at the Hospice of Central Iowa Kavanagh House on 56th Street.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the New Virginia United Methodist Church. The Rev. Jerry Kramer will officiate. Burial will be in the New Virginia Cemetery with a gravesite flag presentation. Visitation is 3 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the Overton Funeral Home, 501 W. Ashland, Indianola, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be a public Masonic service at 7:30 p.m.
Jake was born May 26, 1923 in rural New Virginia, the son of Claude and Margaret (Shoup) Kimzey. He graduated from New Virginia Consolidated High School in 1940. On November 3, 1951, he married Barbara Jean Hilton.
Jake worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and as a riveter in an aircraft factory. He entered the US Army Air Corps on July 21, 1943. He was assigned as a radio operator and gunner on a B-17 with the 464th AAF Battalion Unit in Europe. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant on Februrary 24, 1946. He operated the Standard Oil Tank Wagon Service in New Virginia. Jake was a rural Letter Carrier for the Post Office for 27 years, New Virginia Route #1, retiring in 1990.
He was a member of the New Virginia United Methodist Church, the American Legion Virginia Post #281 of New Virginia, and Neophyte Lodge #301 AF & AM of New Virginia. He had been the New Virginia town clerk and the secretary and treasurer for the New Virginia Manor Corp. He was a real estate broker for the former Kimzey Real Estate, built the first commercial car wash and the Town Apartments New Virginia, and attended auctions in the central Iowa for Barb's Antiques.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara of Indianola; three children, Mrs. Tala Lehmer of Clive, Renee (Tony) Stephens of Indianola and Mark (Linda) Kimzey of Mt. Pleasant; four grandchildren, two step-grandsons, three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Doris Raney of Clifton Hills, MO and Joanne Chandler (Don) of Davenport, IA; a brother, Jerry (Norma) Kimzey of Phoenix, AZ. His parents, a sister, Lois Stuart, two brothers, Claude Kimzey, Jr. and Ronald "Squirt" Kimzey, three cousins whom his parents raised, Victor, Kenneth "Skinner" and Clarence Kimzey, a son-in-law, Roy Lehmer and a granddaughter precede in death.
Memorials are established to the American Legion Virginia Post #281 or Neophyte Lodge #301. Online condolences may be sent at www.overtonfunerals.com .