John William "Bill" FERRIS

FERRIS, REED, NIZZI

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 9/8/2011 at 18:50:46

Clearfield Chronicle
Clearfield, Iowa
Thursday, April 8, 1965

OBITUARY ~ JOHN WILLIAM FERRIS

John William FERRIS, better known as "Bill", the son of Eliza Jane and Charles FERRIS, [was] one of nine children, having 7 sisters and one brother.

Bill was born July 14, 1891 at Murray, Iowa and passed away after a long illness March 26, 1965 at the Americana Rest Home, Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 73 years, eight months, and 12 days.

In 1915, he met and married Mary Emma REED and to this union was born four children - James Willard, Charles K., Mary Evelyn and Lenora Genevieve, the latter preceding him in death in 1932.

Mr. FERRIS belonged to the Church of the Foursquare Gospel, Des Moines, Iowa and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. Working on railroads most of his life, he worked for the Chicago Great Western in his younger days and then for the Des Moines and Central Iowa as an engineer until the time of retirement.

For the past ten years he has been in ill health. In February, having heart failure and then a stroke while in the Doctors Hospital in Des Moines, he left this earthly life as a result of this last stroke.

He leaves to mourn, his beloved wife, Mary of the home; one sister, Gertrude of Des Moines who made her home with him; one daughter, Mary Evelyn NIZZI of Des Moines; two sons Charles K. FERRIS of Willimantic, Conn.; and Rev. James W[illard]. FERRIS of Blockton, Iowa; 6 grandchildren; three, great-grandchildren, brother and sister-in-laws, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law, many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Last rites were held at the Blockton Christian Church March 29th with Rev. Clarence LANDIS officiating. Burial in the Clearfield Cemetery.

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Bedford Times-Press
Bedford, Iowa
Thursday, April 8, 1965

John Wm. Ferris Rites March 29

Funeral services for John William FERRIS of Des Moines were held at the Blockton Christian Church March 29 with Rev. Clarence LANDIS conducting. Mr. FERRIS died after a long illness March 26, 1965 at the Americana Rest Home, Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 73 years, eight months and 12 days. Interment was at Clearfield, Ia.

John William "Bill" FERRIS, the son of Eliza Jane and Charles FERRIS, one of nine children, was born July 14, 1891, at Murray, Iowa.

In 1915 he married Mary Emma REED and to this union four children were born: James Willard, Charles K., Mary Evelyn and Lenora Genevieve; the latter preceded him in death in 1932.

Mr. FERRIS belonged to the Church of the Foursquare Gospel, Des Moines, and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainman.

He worked on railroads most of his life, working for the Chicago Great Western in his younger days and then in Des Moines and Central Iowa as an engineer until the time of his retirement.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary: one sister, Gertrude of Des Moines who made her home with him; one daughter, Mary Evelyn NIZZI of Des Moines; two sons, Charles K. FERRIS of Willimantic, Conn., and Rev. James W[illard]. FERRIS of Blockton; six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, brother and sister-in-laws, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law, many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2011