Fifield, Malinda (Shelmidine) 1849 - 1920

FIFIELD, SHELMIDINE, HOWARD, ELLIOTT, GOLDSWORTHY, DASKAM

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/7/2025 at 15:55:05

Source: Cresco Plain Dealer Nov. 26, 1920, P1 C5

OBITUARY
Fifield
The Kendallville community was saddened by the death of Mrs. W. O. Fifield, which occurred on November 14, 1920, at her own home.
Malinda Shelmidine was born at Oil Creek, Crawford County, Pa., on June 2, 1849.
She dame with her parents to Kendallville, Iowa, when four years of age and lived there all the rest of her life, with the exception of three years spent in Fayette, Iowa.
On June 2, 1869, she was untied in marriage with W. C. Fifield of Kendallville, Iowa. To this union were born ten children, two of whom died in infancy. She was a member of the M. E. church at Kendallville and previous to the last four years took an active part in church work and the life of the community, being one of the chief factors in the beginning of organized church life here.
Her end came slowly, and on November 14, 1920, she passed away having reached the age of 71 years and 21 days. She leaves to mourn her death her husband and eight children---Mesdames W. W. Howard of Davenport, Iowa, Ray Goldsworthy, Harry Goldsworthy, Andre Elliott and Misses Ethel, Vesta and Edna Fifield, and Clinton Fifield; one brother, D. E. Shelmidine; one sister, Mrs. G. W. Daskam; 16 grand children, one great grandchidl{sic}, and a large circle of friends.
The funeral services were held on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1920—a prayer service at the house and the public service at the Kendallville church. Rev. G. W. Turner officiated, speaking from the words “She hath done what she could” the immortality of unselfish service. Two duets were rendered by Mrs. Steve Todd and Mrs. W. A. Daskam—“Beautiful Isle of Somewhere” and “Some Day the Silver Cord will Break”—accompanied on the organ by Mrs. Reuter. The floral tributes from the family the Ladies Aid Society and other friends were many and beautiful.
The interment was in Kendallville cemetery, the pall bearers being Elmo and George Steenson, Clifford Eddy, Christ Hutner, Bert Yates and Walter Daskam.
The following poem was composed by Mrs. Clinton Fifield in memory of the deceased:
Dear mother, you have left us,
Longer here you could not stay;
Your good work here is finished
And God has taken you away,
But our hearts are town and bleeding
It will be so lonely here
Without your sympathy and love
When the days are dark and drear’
As we lingered at the bedside
Till your dear eyes closed in death
Now we linger at the graveside
Where your soul has found its rest.

Card of Thanks.
The family desire to express their appreciation of the sympathy and help rendered to them at this time of their sorrow.

Kendallville-Eddy Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by John Schulte.
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