JESUP - Services for Anna S. Venem, 93, of Jesup, who died today (November 12, 1987) at Covenant Medical Center at West Ninth Street of natural causes, will be 1 p.m. Friday at Parker Funeral Chapel with burial in Graceland Cemetery, New Hampton.

Survivors include a son, Richard of Jesup; two stepsons, Eugene of Concord, California and Alton of Los Angeles; a stepdaughter Irene Petterson of Waterloo; a niece, Lorraine Reinhart, of Waterloo, whom she raised; five grandchildren; eight great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, John R. Venem who died in 1935; a sister, Belle; and a stepson, Adrian.

Friends may call at the chapel from 4 to 9 p.m. today and anytime Friday before services. Memorials may be sent to the family. She worked for the telephone company in New Hampton, retiring in 1957.

It is with deep regret that relatives and old friends of James Lewis learned of his death Sunday, July 23, 1933 at 7 p.m. at his home in Rockford, Illinois. He had attained the advanced age of 80 years, 4 months and 15 days.

James Lewis, one of a family of twelve children, was a son of Samuel and Sarah Lewis. He was born on March 11, 1853 in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. He came with his parents to Iowa on February 15, 1866.

When a young man he was married to Miss Ada A. Lewis. After marriage they resided on a farm near New Hampton, later moving to New Hampton where he was engaged in occupation as a tower watchman and well driller. To this happy union nine children were born, all of who survive except one son, Lee. Children surviving are as follows: Mrs. James Smith of Los Gatos, California, Mrs. Harry E. Alger, George G. Lewis and Charles Lewis of Long Beach, California, Mrs. Hazel Hobbs of Los Gatos, California, James A. Lewis of Oakland, California, Mrs. Sarah Gray of Hollywood, California and Harry J. Lewis of Kansas City, Missouri.

The family moved from here about thirty years ago to California, and about four years later moved to Rockford, Illionois, which has since been his home. His wife died in 1924. He was united in marriage to Mrs. Minnie Sharp on July 17, 1925.

Beside his second wife he also leaves to mourn his passing, sixteen grandchildren, one brother, John Lewis of New Hampton and one sister, Mrs. Fred Sohn of Mason City.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the chapel in Rockford. The body arrived in New Hampton Tuesday night and was taken to the home of his brother, John, at which place the funeral services were held Wednesday at 2 p.m. Reverend F.W. Koenig conducted a brief prayer service and burial was made in Graceland cemetery of this city.

Pallbearers were Ed Johnston, Ed Young, Henry Gardner, Spencer Deal, Fred Larson and Alfred Kelson.

Relatives from a distance attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lewis and daughter, Virginia of Kansas City, Mrs. Fred Sohn and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Fleming of Mason City and Mrs. Minnie Lewis of Rockford, Illinois.

R.A. Lewis, who had lived in New Hampton more than fifty years, passed away at his home, 263 East Logan Street, Saturday, December 29, (1917) at 3 a.m. after an illness of two years from dropsy. His age was 66 years, seven months and one day.

Mr. Lewis had failed very fast the past month and had been confined to his bed most of that time. He bore his suffering with fortitude and approached the end with unfaltering calmness. At noon on Friday he lapsed into unconsciousness and so slept almost to the end, when he opened his eyes, and speechless, looked a farewell to the loved ones who were gathered about him.

Robert Allen Lewis was born at Indiana, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, May 28, 1851, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lewis. At the age of 15 he came with his parents to New Hampton and was engaged for several years as helper to his father in the brick making industry. Later he was for fourteen years in charge of the grain elevator in New Hampton for Gillchrist and Bell. The later period of his life was spent at the carpenter trade.

Mr. Lewis was united in marriage with Elizabeth A. Eggleston, July 25, 1883, at her home in Washington township.

To this union were born two children, Belle, now Mrs. Edward Matzke and Anna. He leaves one granddaughter, Lorraine Matzke.

He is survived by two sisters and three brothers. They are Mrs. Fred Sohn of this city, Mrs. Harry Jackson of Sacramento, Cal., William of Sacramento, James of Rockford, Ill., and John F. of New Hampton.

The funeral was held Monday at the Baptist Church, services being conducted by the pastor, the Rev. T. J. Giblette, and interment was in Graceland. The Knights of Pythias attended in a body. The pall bearers were James Richardson, Walter Rose, G.A. Ladwig, E. R. Kenyon, W. N. Crawford and P.M. Smith.

The deceased was a man of fine intellect and a lover of good literature. He was kindly and social in his nature and enjoyed mingling with his fellowmen. He was for twenty-six years a member of the Knights of Pythias order and was devoted to his principles.

The family have the sympathy of a large circle of friends in their bereavement.

A life of unusual length and vigor came to a close in New Hampton yesterday at 11:00 o'clock, when the soul of Mr. Samuel Lewis passed away to the Great Beyond. He was aged 87 years and one month.

Mr. Lewis had been in gradually failing health since a year ago last fall, when he had a sick spell which it was feared would prove fatal. He rallied, however, from that attack sufficiently to be up and about the house and garden for a little at a time throughout the past year. One week ago last Saturday he discontinued eating and had nothing since. He suffered little, and at the end sank into peaceful sleep.

Samuel Lewis was born on a farm near the town of Indiana, in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. When he was a little boy his father died, and he made his own way in the world. He began to learn the tailor trade, and later worked as a coal miner. In this and the kindred trade of brick making he grew to strong young manhood and on January 6, 1848, was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Johnston. For eighteen years he labored at various work, following the occupation for a time of pilot for the rafting industry. At the breaking out of the war (Civil), he was in Virginia, where he owned two oil wells which he was developing, having associated with him a nephew, John Lewis. Their sympathies were with the north, and when the rebels tried to press them into the southern army, they escaped and evaded the rebel recruiting squads, making the last forty miles to the union line by means of a horse which a northern sympathizer loaned them and which they took turn about riding. The nephew joined the union army, fought three years and was killed in battle.

Mr. Lewis suffered serious financial loss through his experience in the South. In 1866, he came with his family to Iowa, arriving in New Hampton on the 22nd of February and settling in a log house on the plat of ground near the Milwaukee station, which now bears the comfortable brick home. He engaged in brick making here and also for a time ran a yard at Calmar. He made the brick for many of the present business houses of New Hampton, also for the original brick school house, and donated twenty thousand brick to the building of the court house. After twenty years of this kind of work he was attacked by rheumatism and in 1886 quit all active labor and business. He busied himself about the home though, and it was not until four years ago that he found that any kind of labor, no matter how light, was difficult.

Mr. Lewis was the father of 11 children of whom two daughters and a son died in infancy. Irvin died in New Hampton April 1, 1887, aged thirty years. Letitia J. Wood died at Rockford, Illinois seven years ago and was buried here. Those surviving are William J. Lewis of Magalia, Cal.; R.A. of New Hampton, James F. of Rockford, Ill.; Mrs. Mary A. Jackson of St. Paul, John F. and Mrs. Ida M. Sohn of New Hampton. All were at the deathbed of their father, ministering to the comfort to their aged mother. Mr. Lewis leaves twenty-three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at the home on Friday at 2 p.m. conducted by the Rev. Harry Secor of the Baptist Church and interment will be in Graceland.

Mr. Lewis was a man of rugged character and of extreme vigor of body. He was devoted to labor and worked hard to provide for those entrusted to his care. He was a good husband and father, a good citizen and a true friend and neighbor.