Durr, Arthur Joseph 1884 - 1951

DURR, EGGEN, WHISTLER, LORANG, FIELDS, FRESE, DAMROW, WILDER, MONTGOMERY, FULTON, BEYL, CURIEL, HOFFENBACKER, MORGAN, HARRY

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 2/27/2025 at 17:24:28

Clayton County Register, 04 Oct. 1951.

Arthur Joseph Durr, son of Susie and John Durr, was born May 17, 1884, at McGregor, and died at his home on Sept. 26, 1951, at the age of 67 years, 4 months and 9 days, after an illness of eight months. He was united in marriage to Hilma Eggen in the year 1904. To this union eight children were born: Mrs. R. L. (Ruth) Whistler, Kenneth H. Durr and Mrs. John F. (Norma) LoRang of Davenport, Iowa; Mrs. Everette A. (Olive) Fields, Madison, Wis.; Mrs. Ben F. (Elizabeth) Frese, Monona; LeRoy A. Durr, Des Moines; and Everett E. Durr of Burlington. All of his children were at his bedside during his last illness.

His mother, father and one son, Morris, preceded him in death. Surviving are his wife, seven children, two brothers and four sisters, nineteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He received his education in the McGregor schools and lived his entire life in this community. As a young man he was employed by the Milwaukee Railroad and on Sept. 02, 1913, received his appointment as rural mail carrier on Route 01 out of McGregor. After over 30 years' service as "The Mailman" to his 172 patrons, he retired on May 31, 1944. In Aug. of that year he was honored at a retirement picnic at the National fairgrounds which was attended by more than 500 of his friends.

"Art," as he was known by his friends, was very active in the work of the county, district, state and national rural letter carriers' association and was a tireless worker in any project or drive of benefit to the community or church. He served for several years as president of the Mendon Township Community club.

Funeral services were held Friday, Sept. 28, 1951, at the First Evangelical Lutheran church on Swede Ridge with interment at the Norwegian Lutheran cemetery. Pallbearers were members of the Clayton County Rural Letter Carriers' Association.

Besides his children, relatives attending from out of town were: George O. Durr, Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Damrow, Marshall, Wis.; Mr. and Mrs. Merrill Wilder, La Crosse, Wis.; Mrs. John Montgomery, Austin, Minn.; Edward Eggen, Chicago; Mrs. Robert E. Fulton, Davenport, Iowa; Mrs. Fred Beyl, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Curiel, Mrs. Ernie Hoffenbacker, Mrs. Theresa Morgan, and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Eggen, all of Dubuque, Mrs. Harriet Harry and Yvonna Frese, Waterloo.