LISENBY, Ralph (1882-1945)

LISENBY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/20/2020 at 11:05:18

Ralph Lisenby
(Oct 9, 1882- January 3, 1945)

Ralph Lisenby, 62, a resident of this community for the past 20 years died Wednesday evening, Jan 3, at the Methodist hospital in Des Moines after a week’s illness with heart trouble. Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 6, at 2 p.m. at the Carlisle Methodist church. Interment was in Masonic Cemetery in Des Moines. The pastor, the Rev. E. E. Josten, conducted the services, Mr. Lisenby was employed here with the Rock Island railroad company as agent and telegrapher for the past 20 years. He is survived by his wife and son and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lisenby. He was a member of the Methodist church, the Masonic lodge, the Order of the Eastern Star and also Mt. Olive White Shrine, No.2, of Des Moines. Out-of-town relatives and friends who came to attend the funeral were Mrs. George Ganote of Union Star, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. Webster Ganote and Otis Ganote of Kansas City, Mo.; Bud Ganote of St. Joe, Mo.; Mrs. Elizabeth Bearden of Trenton, Mo.; Mrs. Ethel Stickley of Buffalo; Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Spencer, Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Jameson, Chase Smith, Mrs. Lillie Welch, and Mrs. Mabel Houch of Des Moines, Mrs. Elizabeth Bearden will remain for a few weeks here with her niece, Mrs. Lisenby.

Ralph Lisenby, son of J. W. and Alice Bearden Lisenby, was born Oct 9, 1882, near Meadville, Linn County, Mo. At the age of 13, his mother died and he and his sister were kindly cared for by their father. Ralph grew to young manhood in Missouri, and graduated from the high school at Trenton. He then took up the vocation of telegraphy and began his work in 1902 with the Quincy, Omaha and Kansas City Railway Co. at Santa Rosa, Mo. He was united in marriage Feb 14, 1904, to Miss Maggie Ganote at St. Joseph, Mo. To them was born one son, Paul. In 1907 Mr. Lisenby and family moved to Buffalo, Iowa, where he was employed with the Rock Island Railway Co., for 18 years. They then moved to Carlisle in 1924 where they have since resided, and where Mr. Lisenby completed his 40 years service with the railroad.
He is survived by his wife, his son Paul, daughter-in-law, Mrs. Paul Lisenby, all of Carlisle, one sister, Mrs. H. C. Westover of Glendale, Calif.; two aunts, Mrs. Jane Harter of Kidder, Mo., and Mrs. Elizabeth Bearden of Trenton, Mo.; and a number of other relatives. His aged father preceded him in death in Sept. 1942, at Kidder, Mo. Mr. Lisenby united with the Methodist church at Brimson, Mo., when a young man and when he moved to Buffalo he became a member of the Friends church. Since living in Carlisle, he has been a member of the Methodist church, has been a faithful attendant, and has served as a member of the official board and on various committees. He took much interest in the welfare and progress of the church activities. He enjoyed discussions on the Bible of which he had considerable knowledge, and he spent much of his leisure time reading worthwhile literature. His travels through some parts of the United States were of much interest to him as he observed and studied the various conditions and habits of people. He also enjoyed his home and was known as a good neighbor and kind friend. He was past master of the Carlisle Masonic lodge, past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star of Olive White Shrine No.2 of Des Moines, and a member of the Railroad Brotherhood of Telegraphers.
Mr. Lisenby became ill while at his work at the depot, about four weeks ago, and was taken to the Methodist hospital in Des Moines where he received the best medical care available, and hopes were being entertained for his recovery. But he was suddenly seized with a heart attack, from which he did not rally and the end came Wednesday evening, Jan 3, 1945. He was 62 years, 2 months and 24 days of age. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon Jan. 6, at the Carlisle Methodist church. The pastor, the Rev. E. E. Josten conducted the services. Music was furnished by Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Thomas. Interment was in the Masonic cemetery in Des Moines.
[copied from a scrapbook at the Warren County Historical Society Library, Indianola, IA]