Donielson, George 1894 - 1973
DONIELSON, SELLERS, NUTTY, BALSTER, SMITHLING
Posted By: Norman Hjelmeland (email)
Date: 11/10/2021 at 17:36:54
A well-known Decorah man, George Donielson died November 21 at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital of a heart condition and other complications. He was 79. Mr. Donielson, who was retired , was a former business man here, had served for 20 years on the Decorah Police Force and was security officer at Luther College for ten years.
Funeral services were held Saturday morning, November 24 at the Methodist Church with burial in Phelps Cemetery. The Rev. Ward Stephenson and the Rev. David Ash conducted final rites.
Active pallbearers were Paul Hardy, Edward W. Andersen, James Anderson, Alvin F. Hancer, Kenneth H. Galloway and Vincent Lerdall.
Serving as honorary pallbearers were Philip M. Johnson, Bert Smithling, Harry Hansen, John B. Amdahl, William Ronan and M.J. Moellerman.
Helen Carlson was organist and Mrs. W.D. Willer sang. Funeral arrangements were made by Olson-Fjelstud Funeral Home.
Mr. Donielson is survived by his wife, the former Madge Sellers, who he married October 8, 1919; two sons, Dillon Donielson, Burbank, Calif. and Dean Donielson, Saritaga, Calif.; three grandchildren, two great grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Lee (Ann) Nutty, Ames, Ia. and Mrs. William (Emma) Balster, Lowden, Ia.
Born at Elwood, Ia. April 22, 1894. Mr. Donielson farmed after high school for two years with his father. During World I he served three and one-half years, most of the time overseas in France, England and Belgium where he saw a great deal of combat duty.
After the war, he returned to Iowa to farm near Maquoketa where he owned an 80-acre farm and cattle feeding operation. In 1929 he moved to Decorah where he was a bulk hauler for an oil company until he started his own business as an independent oil dealer. While working there he joined the police force in 1942. Mrs. Donielson ran the station while he handled police duties.
After the business was sold in 1946, Mr. Donielson became a full-time member of the police department and was chief for a year and a half. At that time, the police force was comprised of two men, Bert Smithling and George.
Bert had the day shift and George had the night shift, and they worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
Mrs. Donielson along with Mr. Smithling were honored at a testimonial dinner in 1962 for their service to the community.
Mr. Donielson also was a charter member of the local VFW post and active in the Methodist church where he held several offices.
Mr. Donielson was preceded in death by his parents.
Decorah Public Opinion, November 27, 1973
Phelps Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen