George Rockwell DeForest (1894-1973)

DEFOREST, LOCKHART, PAINE, VANHOY, WOOD

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:54

May 2, 1894 --- December 9, 1973

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon in the United Methodist Church for George R. DeForest, 79, who died Sunday at Trinity West Hospital, Fort Dodge.

He became ill about 4 a.m. Sunday and was taken by ambulance to the hospital and died a few hours later.

Mr. DeForest is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Shirley VanHoy of Chase City, Va.; four grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Harry Paine of Palm Harbor, Fla.

Mr. DeForest was a long time Eagle Grove businessman and for about 40 years operated the DeForest Hatchery. Upon retiring he took up the occupation of refinishing furniture and had a shop on East Broadway for some time.

He was a member of the Methodist Church of Eagle Grove and sang in the church choir for 30 years. He was a veteran of World War I.

OBITUARY

George Rockwell DeForest was born May 2, 1894 at Cissna Park, Ill., the son of Frank and Rosa Lockhart DeForest.

The family moved to a farm south of Dows when George was a year old, and he attended school at Dows.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1918 to 1919.

He was united in marriage to Leona Wood of Edmore, N. Dak. at Edmore, September 23, 1919.

The couple moved to Eagle Grove in 1919 and George operated the DeForest Hatchery until 1959. In later years, he has worked at repairing and refinishing furniture.

He entered Trinity West Sunday morning and died a few hours later at the age of 79 years, 7 months and 7 days.

He is survived by his wife; one daughter, Mrs. Shirley VanHoy, Chase City, Va.; four grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Harry Paine, Palm Harbor, Fla.

George was a member of the Methodist Church for over 50 years and a member of the church choir for over 30 years. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Robert Lee DeForest, one brother and one sister.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 12, in the United Methodist Church. Rev. Donald Forbes officiated and burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
December 13, 1973