Andrew John WELLEMEYER

WELLEMEYER, GRIEWE, BACON, CARLSON, MOHLER, HANSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:41

Andrew John Wellemeyer
9 February 1907 ----- 19 November 1961

Andrew Wellemeyer Dies at 54 of Cancer

Andrew J. Wellemeyer, 54, of 2471 Sheridan, well-known businessman and civic leader who formerly owned a third interest in Sedgwick Furniture Company, died at his home at 9 a.m. Sunday. A victim of cancer, Mr. Wellemeyer had been ill for 13 months. He purchased a third interest in Sedgwick Furniture Company in the fall of 1945. Mr. Wellemeyer sold his interest back to members of the Sedgwick family some three years ago. Mr. Wellemeyer has served as chairman of the Retail Merchants Association, director of the Downtown Association, member of the Citizens Advisory Committee and a member of the Board of Safety and Public Parking. A son of Arthur and Lydia Griewe Wellemeyer, he was born Feb. 9, 1907, at Wild Rose Farm, Liberty County, Iowa. His parents purchased a department store in Klemme, Iowa when he was three years of age. He was confirmed and joined the Methodist Church at the age of nine. Following graduation from high school in Klemme, he worked with his father in the department store for three years before enrolling in Kansas City, Kan. Junior College, from which he was graduated cum laude two years later. While working with his father, he attended the Hoendchu College of Embalming, Des Moines. He held Iowa licenses as a funeral director and embalmer at time of death. He attended the College of Commerce and Business Administration, University of Chicago, with an undergraduate fellowship, receiving a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1931. From 1931 until 1934, he was associated with his father in the furniture store and funeral home work. He joined J. S. Lerner's Vogue, Kansas City, Kan., in 1934, as a member of the warehouse crew, when the business included seven stores. When he resigned in 1945, there were 22 stores and he served as general manager. He was a member of Bethel Masonic Lodge, Garner, Iowa, and was active in United Fund campaigns here. He served as a member of the Lay Advisory Board of St. John's Hospital and was chairman of the fund raising campaign for the Pope Pius addition to St. John's Hospital. He was a several-time director of the Downtown Kiwanis Club. Although a member of the Methodist Church, he attended University Heights Baptist Church with members of his family, being the oldest member of the church choir. Mr. Wellemeyer taught retail merchandising for four terms in the night school program for adults at Drury College. He also served as an instructor in the school for furniture executives sponsored by the National Furniture Association on Northwest campus, Chicago.

Survivors include his wife, Elma; two daughters, Donna Jo and Glenna Sue Wellemeyer, both of Kansas City, and four sisters, Mrs. Donald Bacon and Mrs. James Carlson, both of Klemme, Iowa, Mrs. Burton Hanson, Wesley, Iowa, and Mrs. Richard Mohler, Dayton, Ohio. Arrangements are under the direction of Herman Lohmeyer.

News Leader -- Springfield, Missouri
20 November 1961

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Andrew J. Wellemeyer, 54, Springfield, Mo., died of cancer Sunday at the home. He was a former chairman of the Springfield Retail Merchants association. Mr. Wellemeyer was a graduate of Kansas City, Kansas Junior college and of College of Commerce and Business Administration, University of Chicago. He joined J. S. Lerner's Vogue of Kansas City, Kansas, as a warehouse crew member in 1934. When he resigned as general manager in 1945, there were 22 stores.

Mr. Wellemeyer was born in Liberty County, Iowa. Mr. Wellemeyer was a nephew of J. F. Wellemeyer, 1504 Tauromee avenue, Kansas City, Kansas, who for many years was dean of the Kansas City, Kansas Junior college. Mr. Wellemeyer a year ago established a furniture company, Foam Rubber City, at 1005 McGee street.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Elma Wellemeyer of the home; two daughters, Miss Donna Jo Wellemeyer, 1204 East Sixty-sixth, North, and Miss Glenna Sue Wellemeyer, 2112 Pursell, and four sisters, Mrs. Donald Bacon and Mrs. James Carlson, Klemme, Ia.; Mrs. Burton Hanson, of Wesley, Ia., and Mrs. Richard Mohler, of Dayton O.

Kansas City Times
21 November 1961