John Leslie Powers, Jr. (1895-1946)

POWERS, OSMAN, KELLEHER, CROCKER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/29/2026 at 18:56:56

From Ames Daily Tribune April 9, 1946 (page 1)

John L. Powers, Jr., 51, Dies in Home Monday Eve After Recent Heart Attack

John L. Powers, Jr., 51, of 12216 Second street, died in his home early last evening from a heart ailment.

He suffered an attack of heart trouble March 23 at Excelsior Springs, Mo., where he and his wife had gone for a rest. They returned to Ames on March 23, and he had been seriously ill since that time.

Mr. Powers came to Ames from Cedar Rapids in 1921, after his father and brother bought the Ames Tribune-Times from W. G. Williams, and was associated with them and his brother-in-law, T. F. Crocker, in that business until 1935, when the paper was sold to W. S. Rupe, present owner.

He, with his brother, C. O. Powers as partner, continued in the commercial printing business known as the Tribune Publishing company, until his death.

Mr. Powers was reared in a newspaper and printing atmosphere, since his father had been connected with a number of papers both in and out of Iowa. The senior Mr. Powers returned to Iowa in 1908 from Cody, Wyoming, to be superintendent at the Torch Press, Cedar Rapids, and he and his sons came to Ames in 1921. J. L. Powers, Sr., was president of the Ames paper, J. L. Powers, Jr., was advertising and business manager, and C. O. Powers was secretary, and superintendent of the printing plant.

John L. Powers, Sr., came to Iowa from Ohio in 1881, and married Miss Ella Osman of Marshalltown Oct. 14, 1885. Both are deceased.

John L. Powers, Jr. was married in 1923 to Miss Gertrude Kelleher of Des Moines. They have one daughter, Sally, a senior in Ames senior high school, who survives. There also are two brothers, Carl of Ames, and Frederick D. of San Diego, Calif. and a sister, Mrs. Thomas Crocker of Long Beach, Calif.

Mr. Powers was a member of St. Cecelia's church, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, the City Planning Commission, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the State University of Iowa. He enlisted as a Marine in World War I and was a marine pilot when discharged.

Funeral services will be held at 9 o'clock Thursday in St. Cecelia's Catholic church. The American Legion will have charge of the military service at the grave. Burial will be in the Ames Municipal cemetery.