George KYSETH

KYSETH, MCNEILL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/15/2007 at 13:56:02

Wright County Monitor
December 28, 1967

Services Held for George Kyseth

With the passing of George Kyseth, Clarion has lost a citizen of true stature and loyalty. His interests were many and varied, and his quality of enthusiasm belied his years. George was born March 21, 1894, in Duluth, Minn. His parents, B.O. and Marie Kyseth, moved to Sherburn and then Preston, Minn., where George attended grade and high school He graduated from Preston High School in 1912 and from Bradley University School of Horolgy, Peoria, HI. In 1917 he enlisted in the U. S. Army, trained at Officers' Candidate School at Fort Snelling, and served with the 20th Infantry as First Lieutenant during World War I. in 1918 he married Arneda McNeill of Prophetstown, HI. They had two sons, George Kyseth, Jr., who preceded his father In death, and Neil D. Kyseth. After his discharge from the Army, Mr. Kyseth entered into partnership with his father in a jewelry store in Preston. In 1925 George and Arneda moved to Clarion, which has since been their home. Active in business, politics, community, and fraternal affairs, Mr. Kyseth was well known and liked in the county and state. He was instrumental in having a watchmaker's licensing bill passed in the Iowa Legislature and, since then, has always had the No. 1 state license in that field, Bradley University gave him a citation in 1958, honoring him for outstanding achievement in horology. For fourteen years Mr. Kyseth served the Republican Party as County Chairman. During this time he encouraged able young men to serve our county in the legislature. Clark McNeal and William Tyrrell of Belmond were among these men. Though known as "Mr. Republican of Wright County," George also counted many Democrats as warm friends. He was active in the campaigns of Robert Blue of Eagle Grcve, who served two terms as an outstanding Iowa governor; George Wilson, Governor and later U. S. Senator; and Bourke Hickenlooper, U. S. Senator. After serving the Republican party during several Democratic administrations, George retired when Eisenhower became President and Iowa again went Republican.

Always civic and community minded, Mr. Kyseth was instrumental in having Lake Cornelia dredged, planting cover for pheasants, and restocking these birds. He loved to hunt and fish and was an expert dry fly fisherman. The Kyseth summer home in Canada is surrounded by every species of native pine tree, which he chose and planted. Mr. Kyseth was a post president of the Iowa Retail Jewelers' Association and served on the Board of Directors for many years. He was also a past president of the Clarion Commercial Club, which is now the Chamber of Commerce. When the Clarion Community Memorial Hospital was proposed, George was an enthusiastic backer of the project and worked diligently on the fund raising committee. After the hospital was built, he was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees and served as such for fourteen years. During this time the first addition to the hospital was built, and again he helped with the fund raising and with the plantings, which beautify the grounds. Mr. Kyseth was a Past Master and a fifty year member of the Masonic Lodge. He was present at the meeting in Minneapolls, when the American Legion was formed and has been a continuous member. After retiring from business, he and Mrs. Kyseth enjoyed their hobby of collecting and restoring antique jewelry. They displayed their collection at antique shows in Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and the Midwest, enjoying a new area of friends and experiences.

Mr. Kyseth slept away in the Clarion Community Memorial Hospital at noon on December 26, 1967. He is survived by his wife, Arneda; his brother, Milton; his son and daughter-in-law, Neil and Eunice Kyseth, and his granddaughter, Robin. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Prophetstown, Ill. The memorial service In Clarion will be at the Eyler Funeral Home on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 11:00 a. m. The Rev. Calvin Milan will conduct the service. Honorary pallbearers will be H. R. Carr, Dr. Robert Eaton, Dr. Richard Smith, Paul Ramsay, James Stroup, Holmes; Philip Littlefield, Minneapolis, Minn.; Fred Strouse, Des Moines, and Mark Sracina, Marshalltown, Iowa. The family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Clarion Community Memorial Hospital.