Elwood William GEARY

GEARY, JACOBSEN, SCHOENWETTER, BECK, KOLBE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/29/2015 at 17:07:46

September 13, 1922 --- December 28, 2015

Elwood W. Geary, the son of Wallie E. and Clara (Jacobsen) Geary of Newell, Iowa was born on September 13, 1922. He was one of ten children. Elwood attended school at Sulphur Springs, later he moved to Claremont, MN where he graduated from High School in 1942. Following graduation, he worked in California in construction. He was inducted into the United States Navy on October 29, 1942, in San Diego, CA. He was discharged on January 5 1946, at U.S. Personal Separations Center in Minneapolis, MN. During his service he was stationed all over the Pacific as a gunner. While aboard the Chikaskia he endured typhoon "Cobra" which struck on December 17, 1944. During the typhoon three destroyers were sunk and over 775 lives were lost. After his discharge, he began work with the Klemme Times as a linotype operator, where he worked for 5 and a half years.

On August 1, 1947, he married Wava Schoenwetter and together they raised three children. In 1951 he and Wava purchased the Corwith Herald and operated the newspaper until May 23, 1988. The couple continued doing the print work in their shop in the basement of their home. Elwood also started printing photos for the C-W-L School yearbooks. Elwood could always be seen at the CWL events with his camera in hand.

Elwood was a member of the Corwith United Methodist Church, was chairman of the Hancock County Veterans Affairs, Clarion Coin Club, American Legion Elmer Wilson Post #229 in Corwith, the Corwith Fire Department. On January 2, 2010, Elwood was able to go on the Hancock and Winnebago County Veterans Honor Flight to Washington D.C., which was the highlight of his year.

Elwood William Geary, 93 passed away at the Iowa Specialty Hospital on Monday, December 28, 2015, in Clarion, Iowa, from complications of diabetes.

He is survived by his wife Wava of 69 years; children, Eldon (Darlene) Geary of Lee Summit, Missouri, Michael (Deborah) Geary of Clarion, Iowa and Pamela (Geary) Beck of Park Ridge, Illinois; grandchildren, Tami, Miki, Tony, Troy, Michele, Meghan, Jack and Amelia; 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Darlene (Norm) Kolbe of Sac City, Iowa; many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Wayne, Donald, Marvin, Gerald, Darrel and Richard Geary; sisters, Loella and Phyllis Geary and son-in-law, Paul Beck.

Visitation -- Friday, Jan 1, 2016 -- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Corwith Community Center, 110 Wayne St., Corwith, Iowa

Service -- Saturday, Jan 2, 2016 -- 10:30 AM
United Methodist Church ~ Corwith, 214 Clinton St., Corwith, Iowa

Oakcrest Funeral Services, 207 Linn St., Corwith, Iowa
http://www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com/obituary/143942/Elwood-Geary/