LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
August 17, 1945
MRS. WM. KENNEDY DIES IN DENVER
Was Pioneer Resident Near Seney
Mrs. Wm. H. Kennedy, former resident of Plymouth County, died in a hospital at Denver, Colorado, on Tuesday, after a weeks’ illness following a stroke.
Martha Jane Burkholder was born April 15, 1855, at Ontario, Canada. In 1868, she moved with her family to Missouri where they lived until 1884 (sic) when they moved to Marshalltown, Iowa.
On January 28, 1874, she was united in marriage with Wm. H. Kennedy at Marshalltown, Iowa, and in 1903 (sic) they moved to Plymouth County settling on a farm near Seney. She has been a resident of Denver for the past thirty-three years.
Mrs. Kennedy was preceded in death by her husband in 1909, a son William, who died in 1920, and a son, Watson, in 1942. She is survived by two granddaughters, Mrs. Charles Ewin, of LeMars, Mrs. M. W. Weld of Sioux City, and a grandson, Emerson Kennedy, who is in the Navy somewhere in the South Pacific. Mrs. Kennedy retained her membership all these years in the Seney Methodist church and is also a fifty year member of the local Order of Eastern Star.
Funeral services will be held on Friday afternoon at 2:30 at the Mauer Funeral Home with Rev. Earl Dale officiating. Burial will be in the LeMars City Cemetery.
WILL EYRES DIED AT HOME TUESDAY
Had Lived In County 63 Years
William Henry Eyres, pioneer resident of Plymouth county, died at his home 718 First Avenue SE, on Tuesday following an eight month illness of cancer.
Mr. Eyres, son of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Eyres, was born December 28, 1856, at Ontario, Canada, and moved to Plymouth county in 1882 which has since been his home. He farmed for many years in Union township before moving to LeMars.
In April, 1917, Mr. Eyres was united in marriage with Miss Dora Pech, also of LeMars, who survives him, besides three brothers, Richard, Charles and Earnest, all of LeMars, and two sisters, Mrs. William Begg of LeMars and Miss Ethel Eyres of Council Bluffs.
Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Mauer Funeral Home and burial was in the LeMars cemetery.
LESTER WITT, LE MARS MAN, HAS SEEN SERVICE IN THREE GREAT INVASIONS
Is Steward On USS Texas In Pacific At Present
Chief Commissary Steward Lester F. Witt, USNR, whose wife lives at 300 Fourth Ave. SE., LeMars, on the USS Texas somewhere in the Pacific, is now serving aboard this man-o’-war, veteran of five invasions, during 50 consecutive days of the Okinawa campaign.
Throughout the bombardment few men on this vessel slept more than four hours out of 24. They started pounding the Japs on Okinawa seven days before amphibious forces landed and then for 43 days helped ground troops thin out enemy lines with their big guns.
At first the Japs remained silent, but as their retreat crowded them to the ends of the island, fighting became more intense and they sent formations of planes in an attempt to halt American naval and land operations. Three times Jap suicide pilots turned toward the Texas, and each time she discouraged them with anti-aircraft fire.
This 31-year-old ship, skippered by Capt. Charles A. Backer, USN, of Washington, D.C., is credited with being the only American battleship to have dealt with the enemy in waters off three continents—Africa, Europe and Asia. She participated in the invasions of North Africa, Normandy, southern France and Iwo Jima.
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Mrs. Guy Redmon, Cherokee, Seriously Ill
Cherokee Times: The many friends of Mrs. Guy Redmon, who is receiving treatment at St. Mary’s Hospital at Rochester, Minn., will be pleased to learn that she is improving and hopes to avoid an operation. A note from Mr. Redmon who is with her at Rochester, says:
“She has been in St. Mary’s hospital for the past nine weeks but expects to leave there the last of this week and go into a convalescing hotel, where she must remain for the next three months and take tests and treatment under doctor’s care. She has been very sick but is recovering slowly and hopes to avoid an operation. I am remaining with her.”
LeMars Globe-Post, August 23, 1945
Obituary Martha J. Kennedy
Martha J. Burkholder Kennedy was born in Ontario, Canada on April 15, 1855, and passed from this life at the Denver General Hospital, Denver, Colorado, on August 14, 1945, at the age of 90 years and 4 months.
She came to the United States with her family in 1868. The family first made their home in Missouri. Then in 1871 the moved to Marshalltown, Iowa. On January 28, 1874 she was united in marriage to William H. Kennedy. Later they moved into the Seney, Iowa, community and in 1898 joined the Methodist Church in Seney. To this union two sons were born, Watson David and William Emerson.
Mrs. Kennedy has outlived the rest of her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, who died February 9, 1909; her son, William Emerson, May 16, 1920; and Watson David, Dec. 11, 1942. Three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren survive: Mrs. Charles Ewin of LeMars, Mrs. Morton Weld of Sioux City; and Emerson Kennedy of the U.S. Navy; the great grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.
Mrs. Kennedy is still a member of the Seney Methodist Church and has been a member of the Eastern Star Chapter of LeMars for 50 years. Mrs. Kennedy was a kind and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and was always happy to have her loved ones around her and to serve them in any way possible. Her kind and loving deeds will be long remembered by all who knew her.
Burial was made at the LeMars City cemetery. Funeral services at the Mauer funeral parlor at 2:30 p.m. August 17, with Rev. Earl Dale, pastor of the First Baptist Church officiating.