Elman, Jerry (1899-1975)

ELMAN, BIRUM, DEJONG, LAUMBACH, SOUKUP

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 1/19/2010 at 19:44:17

Jerry J. Elman
September 5, 1899 - July 4, 1975

Funeral services for Jerry J. Elman of Osage, a retired auto dealer, were held from the Champion Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m., Monday, July 7. The Rev. Wayne Gjerde officiated with Mrs. E.L. Harrison providing the music at the organ. Burial was in the Osage Cemetery.

Mr. Elman was born September 5, 1899 at Buffalo Center and died Friday, July 4, 1975, at the Osage Memorial Hospital. Casket bearers were Jerry Elman II, Marvin Elman, Merlyn Elman, James Birum, Paul DeJong and Ronald Laumbach. Honorary casket bearers were Kester Ahrens, Carl Conway, Larry Dammen, Carsten Johnsten, Maurice Kathan, Walter McCoy, Virgil McGhan, Ray Peterson, Arthur Schissel and Jack Wiley. Military rites were conducted by American Legion Post 278.

Jerry Elman was educated in the Buffalo Center schools and graduated from the Capitol City Commercial College in Des Moines. He served with the United States Army in France during World War I. Mr. Elman was also a member of American Legion Post 278 where he was a past commander and had been cited for his over 55 years of continuous membership and service both with and to the Post.

He married the former Gladys Birum on June 17, 1925 in Osage. Mrs. Elman, who survives, is a former teacher in the Buffalo Center schools. Mr. Elman service as an accountant for the Birum Buick Company's main office in Osage and branch offices in Charles City, Mason City and Stacyville. He later purchased the business from his father-in-law, the late George Birum.

In October 1956 he elected to retire from business and sold the auto dealership to the late Jack Gladwin. Jerry and Gladys loved to travel and spent their winters following retirement in Florida and Texas, returning to Osage in the spring. Mr. Elman was a past-president of the Sunny Brae Country Club, was a member of the Methodist Church, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge for over 50 years.

During World War II he served on the Price and Ration Board, the Civilian Defense Corps and was chairman of the Mitchell County Selective Service Board.

In January of this year he underwent lung surgery in Dallas, Texas. On June 1, they returned to Osage where they marked their fiftieth wedding anniversary on June 17.

Mr. Elman, who is survived by his wife, Gladys, is also survived by an adopted daughter, Barbara, Mrs. Anthony Soukup Jr., Dallas, Texas; tow brothers, Kors, of Mesa, Arizona and Raymond of Buffalo Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Margaret Elman and a brother, Harold, of Memphis, Tennessee.

~Buffalo Center Tribune, July 10, 1975