Obituaries
submitted by: Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com
 
 

[Brammer, Joe Creese]

Joe Creese Brammer was born on October 31, 1925 to Rolla and Ethel Brammer of Creston, Iowa. Joe joined the Armed Forces in 1942. Upon returning to Iowa he married Lometa [Pearl] Reed on October 9, 1946. He and Lometa lived in the Sharpsburg and Lenox area where they raised four children.

Joe worked construction before settling in Sharpsburg and purchasing the service station in 1962. Throughout Joe's life he found joy in the simple pleasures of life. He especially enjoyed his pigeons as well as coon hunting and fishing. Joe was honored by the Sharpsburg Fire Department for 50 years of volunteer service for his community in 2011. Joe was also a dedicated member of the United Methodist Church in Sharpsburg.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Lometa, son Billy, and an infant daughter.

Joe is survived by a daughter Jolene and husband Gary Umphry of Stanberry, Missouri; son Larry and wife Michelle of Clearfield; daughter Cindy and husband Jack of Clearfield; also Dennis Cribbs of Saint Charles, Iowa who was like a son to Joe. A brother Dick and wife Evelyn Brammer of Lenox; long time companion Phyllis Breach and her children, Linda and husband Harold; Carol and husband Dennis; Roger and wife Jill; Susie and husband Jim; and their families. Joe is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren, and countless friends and extended family members.

Joe never knew a stranger and was a friend to everyone. Although Joe will be greatly missed, his love and inspiration will live on through his family and friends.

Funeral Services were held Monday, Dec. 19, 2011 at the Presbyterian Church in Sharpsburg. Visitation was held at Ritchie funeral Home in Bedford on Sunday. Burial was in Conway Cemetery. Ritchie Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
[Online obituary courtesy of Eickemeyer Funeral Chapel, http://www.efc.cc/_main/obituaries.asp]

[Brand, Earl Theodore]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday      August 26, 1913     p. 4

CONWAY

Earl [Theodore] Brand of near Clearfield died Sunday. Funeral services was held at the M. E. church in Conway Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Interment in Conway cemetery.

[Brand, Earl Theodore]

Bedford Free Press

Tuesday      September 2, 1913      p. 8

Earl [Theodore] Brand, a young man of Grant Township, who was recently operated on for appendicitis and abscess of the liver, died last Saturday. Funeral services were held at the home Monday. Interment was in Conway cemetery.

[Brand, Hattie Belle McFarland]

Bedford Free Press

Tuesday      November 21, 1916     p. 5

Mrs. Lou Brand returned Thursday afternoon from Lenox where she went Monday, called by the death of her sister-in-law, Mrs. William Brand [Hattie Belle McFarland].

[Brand, Hattie Belle McFarland]

Clearfield Enterprise

Thursday      November 16, 1916       p. 6

Obituary

Hattie Belle McFarland was born in Lewiston, Fulton Co., Illinois, October 10th, 1859, and died at her home in Ringgold Co., Iowa, Nov. 6th, 1916, aged 59 years and 28 days.

She was married to Wm. A. [ustin] Brand on January 26th, 1881. Following their marriage, she and her husband moved to Missouri. After a short residence there, they came to Iowa, where they have since made their home, having lived in the present community for the past two years.

Eleven children were born to this union, seven boys and four girls. Six of these preceded the mother in death. The five living children are as follows: ---Elmer and Roy, who live at home; Iva and Cora of Gravity, Iowa; and Everett of Wyoming---all of whom were with her during her last sickness and at the time of her death.

Mrs. Brand has been a great sufferer and with patience has endured it all. Medical skill and loving and tender nursing did all that could be done, but all to no avail, and finally the strong constitution gave way, and she passed beyond reach of the care of her loved ones. She was a loving wife and a tender mother, respected by all who knew her.

How forcibly we are minded of the Savior’s admonition, “Be ye also ready.”

Funeral services were held at the home Wednesday morning, November 8th, conducted by Pastor C. A. Carlson of the Clearfield Methodist church; interment at Conway.

[Brand, William Austin]

Clearfield Enterprise

Thursday      August 23, 1928     [p. 1]

William Austin Brand, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew [Jackson] Brand [Evaline Martha Russel], was born in McComb, Illinois, Oct. 2, 1854, and departed this life Aug. 15, 1928, aged 73 years, 10 months and 13 days.

He moved from Illinois to Missouri, and later to Iowa in 1882. He was married to Hattie McFarland January 26, 1881, who preceded him in death some 12 years ago. To this union were born eleven children, seven of them preceding their father in death, and four remained to mourn his going. Those that remain are Elmer [Austin] of Clearfield, Roy [Vernon] of Kent, Mrs. Iva [Estella] Akers of Gravity, and Everet [t] of Kent; besides a host of other relatives and friends.

Mr. Brand has lived in the vicinity of Kent for about 8 years, and has made many friends.

The funeral services were held Friday afternoon at the home of his son Everet [t], with Rev. Roy B. Weaklend of Clearfield in charge, and interment was in the Conway Cemetery.

[Briggs, George Wesley]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    January 5, 1956      p. 2

Obituary – George Briggs

George Wesley Briggs, son of Randolph and Eva M. [ay] Applegate Briggs, was born near Blockton, Iowa, June 18, 1898 and died at his home in Conway, Dec. 21, 1955 at the age of 57 years, six months, three days.

He spent his life in Taylor County with the exception of a short time in Illinois.

He was married to Mary Short on Sept. 25, 1951 at Clarinda, making their home in Conway.

He served in both World War I and II. He was a member of the Conway American Legion.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; one sister, Mrs. Mable Hamburg of Portland, Oregon; one half-brother, Delbert Stapleford of Eureka, Kansas; one step-sister, Mrs. Edna LaRue of Galesburg, Ill.; an aunt, Mrs. Viella Cole of Blockton.

Funeral services were held at the Conway Methodist church, Friday afternoon, Dec. 23, 1955. Rev. Howard DeVore, the pastor officiated. Burial in Conway cemetery.

[Briggs, Mary Short]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     March 1, 1979     p. 2

Mary Briggs, 77, Last Rites Were Held February 26

Funeral services for Mrs. George (Mary) Briggs, 77, of Conway, lifetime resident of Taylor County, were held February 26 in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home in Bedford officiated by Carl Cummings. Mrs. Briggs died February 23 in Rosary Hospital in Corning, Ia. Interment was at Conway Cemetery, Conway, Ia.

Mary Short Briggs, daughter of William and Matilda [Kearney] Short, was born at Clearfield, Iowa, June 30, 1901.

She had lived in Taylor County during her lifetime and grew to maturity in the Conway area where she attended the public school and the Methodist church.

On September 25, 1951 she was united in marriage to George Briggs at Clarinda, Iowa and they lived in Conway, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four brothers and two sisters.

Left to cherish her memory are two sisters: Grace Horton of Clearfield, Iowa and Helen Madden of Kent, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Eulalia Short, of Bedford, Iowa; a number of nieces; nephews, grand nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church at Conway, Iowa.

Her family and friends will remember her as a kind and considerate sister, aunt, and loved one and she will be missed by all those who knew and loved her.

[Brown, Dorothy Darlene]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday       March 4, 1937     p. 2

SHARPSBURG LOCALS

Bob Hancock, Mrs. Harold Hancock, and Orin Hancock of Purdy, Iowa, came Sunday called by the death of Dorothy Brown.

[Brown, Dorothy Darlene]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday       March 11, 1937      p. 2

Obituary – Dorothy Darlene Brown

Dorothy Darlene Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orville Brown [Ruby Hancock], was born March 23, 1936, and departed this life at the Mercy hospital in St. Joseph, Mo., Feb. 28, 1937 at the age of 11 months and 5 days.

She leaves to mourn her loss her father and mother; two brothers, Orville Junior and Harlan; two sisters, Viola and Betty Lou; and four grandparents. One infant sister preceded her in death.

She was seriously ill about four days and though all was done that loving and faithful hands could do to keep her here with us, God and His unquestionable wisdom saw fit to call her away.

The funeral services were held Tuesday morning, March 2 at the home. Burial was in the Conway cemetery.

[Brown, Grace Geneva Edwards]

Clearfield Chronicle

Wednesday     June 27, 2001     p. 2

Grace Brown

Funeral services for Grace Brown, age 98, of Lenox, who died Friday, June 22, 2001 were held Monday, June 25, 2001 at 2 p. m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Lenox with Pastor Tim Maxa officiating. Interment was held in the West Fairview Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Lenox Care Center or the American Cancer Society.

Grace Geneva (Edwards) Brown, 98, was born May 9, 1903 and passed away June 22, 2001, at the Lenox Care Center.

Along with her parents, Charles and Clara [Holland] Edwards and seven brothers and sisters, Grace moved from a rural area of southern Indiana to Adair, Iowa, where her parents purchased and operated the Adair Hotel for several years. In 1924 Grace met and married Eddie Brown in the Adair area. Eddie and Grace were blessed with three sons and one daughter.

The family lived in the Sharpsburg and Lenox area for many years where Grace was happy to be a stay-at-home mom and farm wife. She was a devoted Christian, dedicated wife, and loving mother and grandmother. Grace enjoyed caring for her family, cooking, and cleaning.

A few years after losing her loving husband of nearly 64 years, Grace entered the Lenox Care Center in Lenox, where she spent the remaining years under the kind and caring staff of the Center.

Family remaining to remember her are sons Robert (Bob) and wife Kathlyn Brown of rural Lenox; Darrell and wife Shirley Brown of Lenox, daughter Clare and husband Dean Davis of Lincoln, Neb.; a daughter-in-law Susie Brown, wife of the late Darwin Brown of Rolla, Mo.; a brother-in-law, Dale Brown of Harlan; a sister-in-law, Nora Belle Edwards of California; 18 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, 13 great great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Clara Edwards; sisters Lillian and Emma; brothers Noble, Bill, Bob, Graham and Henry; husband Eddie; an infant son, and son Darwin.

[Brown, Orville Theodore “Brownie”, Jr.]

Lenox Time Table

Wednesday     April 10, 1996      p. 6

Orville T. Brown

Orville T. [heodore] Brown, Jr. (Brownie), oldest son of Orville T. [heodore] Brown and Ruby [Marie] Hancock Brown, was born on a farm south of Sharpsburg, Iowa on February 7, 1925. He passed away at his home in Phoenix, Arizona, March 24, 1996.

Survivors include his sons, Doyle D. and James A. Brown, daughter Linda R. Waldeck (husband Martin) and six grandchildren. Also, two brothers Harlan and Bob, and three sisters, Vie Guess, Betty Donaldson, and Jean Fitzgerald.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Ruth and Dorothy and daughter Joyce E. Wise.

Brownie had resided in the Phoenix area since 1966. He previously owned and operated Brown’s Office Supply. He was a member of the Aldersgate Methodist Church and many civic organizations.

Services were held March 28th at his church. His body was cremated and remains will be returned to the Conway, Iowa Family Plot.

[Brown, Roy Manford]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      August 15, 1935      p. 7

CONWAY

Roy Brown Dies

Was Seriously Ill For Long Period of Time

Roy Brown, 34, a resident of the Conway community died early Saturday morning in Sharpsburg at the home of his father, Ode Brown, where he had been seriously ill for weeks, following operations at Maryville and Iowa City hospitals. All that loving hands and medical skill could do was of no avail, and death came as a relief from weeks of intense suffering. Roy was of a cheerful, ambitious nature, and will be sadly missed by neighbors and friends, as well as a large number of relatives, including his wife and three children, Margaret, 13, Howard 8, and Roberta Lee, 3.

Funeral services were held in Sharpsburg Monday afternoon.

[Brown, Roy Manford]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday      August 15, 1935      p. 8

Roy Brown, 34, Dies at Sharpsburg

Roy Brown, 34, died at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. [dis] M.[cKager] Brown in Sharpsburg, Saturday, August 10, after a long and severe illness. The funeral services were held in Sharpsburg Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. A. S. Hutcheson.

Roy Maniford [Manford] Brown, son of O. [dis] M. [cKager] and Mary E.[lizabeth Richey] Brown, was born Jan. 18, 1901. He grew to manhood and spent most of his life in Taylor County, Iowa. The past twelve years he had been in the service of the county. He united with the Presbyterian church of Sharpsburg about the age of 14 and had since been a member.

June 11, 1921 he was married to Ada Margaret Creveling. To them were born four children, Margaret Loraine, 13, Dorothy Maxine, who died in infancy, Howard Leo, 8, and Roberta Lee, 3.

Surviving with his wife, children and parents, are three sisters and three brothers. They are Mrs. Oma W. Kirby of Bedford, Mrs. Grace A. Selders of Sharpsburg, Mrs. Daisy M. [ay] Baggstrom of Glenwood, Charlie O. [dis] Brown, Clyde D. Brown, and Marvin L. [ee] Brown, all of Sharpsburg.

Roy has always been a faithful and industrious husband and father to his family and has been well known and much esteemed throughout the county.

[Brown, Ruby Marie Hancock]

Lenox Time Table

Wednesday     January 2, 1990     p. 3

Ruby Marie Hancock Brown

Funeral services for Ruby Marie Hancock Brown were held December 27, 1990 at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home with Mr. Dan Sherick and Miss Naomi Nicholson officiating. Interment was in Conway Cemetery, Conway, Iowa.

Ruby Marie Hancock Brown, oldest daughter of Robert and Ida Bingaman Hancock, was born in Lucas County, Iowa on September 4, 1905. She departed this life on December 24, 1990 at St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha, Neb. at the age of 85 years, three months and 20 days.

She grew up near Columbia, Iowa and attended the nearby school. Around the age of 10, due to the illness of her mother, she helped with the responsibility of caring for their home and younger brothers and sister.

At an early age she accepted Christ as her Saviour and continued to be faithful until the very end.

On January 16, 1923 she was united in marriage to Orville Theodore Brown of Conway. They set up housekeeping on a farm south of Sharpsburg where they resided for 22 years, later moving to her present farm home northwest of Sharpsburg. Ruby enjoyed working side by side with Orville on the farm. Eight children were born to bless this union.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Orville in 1968; two infant daughters, Ruth and Dorothy; her brother, Harold and sister, Pearl Ansley; her son-in-law, Richard Guess; and granddaughter, Barbara Day.

Left to cherish her memory are her three sons: Orville, Jr. of Phoenix, Ariz., Harlan and wife Zelma of Lenox, Robert and wife Judy of Evergreen, Colo., three daughters: Viola Guess of Catlin, Ill., Betty Donaldson and husband Donald of Sharpsburg, Jean Fitzgerald and husband Richard of Corning; a brother, Oran of Phoenix, Ariz.; 19 grandchildren; 38 great grandchildren; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, many nephews and nieces, and a host of friends.

Her greatest joys were serving her church, caring for her family, and the pride of her garden.

She was a loving, faithful wife, devoted mother and grandmother, a good neighbor, and a kind and considerate friend and she will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

[Bruner, Joseph]

Taylor County Democrat

Thursday     December 7, 1893     p. 4

N. Bubb went to Conway Tuesday to attend the funeral of Joseph Bruner, who died Monday morning, Dec. 4. The deceased lived about four miles south of Conway. The funeral took place at the M. E. Church in Conway Tuesday afternoon.

[Bruner, Rebecca Ellen Grubb]

Bedford Times-Republican

Friday     September 15, 1905    [p. 1]

The Lamp of Life Goes Out

At fifteen minutes of 3 o’clock Tuesday morning, Sep. 5, the last spark in the life of Rebecca Ellen Grubb, was extinguished forever. Death entered the home and claimed its victim and there was no one who could stay his icy hand when once he had placed his mark upon the forehead of the loving wife and mother, and God bade her come home.

For twelve long weeks she had struggled hard to stay with her earthly friends but the time was at hand for her to take her departure into the unseen world and she had to go. All that trained physicians and loving hands could do to keep her on earth was done but the Master’s voice was stronger than all else, and she left earthly friends to go to the world beyond where there is said to be no sickness, suffering or death. She went the way that all must travel and now awaits on the other shore to greet her loved ones when it comes their time to pass over.

Rebecca Ellen Grubb was born March 14, 1873, in Henry county, Iowa. When 5 years of age she with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Calvin [Colvin] Grubb, came to Taylor County where she resided at the time of her death.

She was married to Wm. [Frank] Bruner Oct. 11, 1894. To this union was born one child, a son, who is left to mourn the loss of his dearest friend on earth, his mother.

Besides her husband and son, she leaves to mourn her departure a father and mother, one sister and four brothers, (one sister having preceded her to that better world), besides a host of friends and neighbors.

Funeral services were held at the M. E. church in Conway yesterday morning, conducted by Rev. Coe. After the services at the church the funeral cortege wended its way to the Conway cemetery where the remains were laid to rest in bosom of mother earth.

The sympathy of many friends is extended to the sorrowing ones and they are commended to the care of the Heavenly Father who watches over those who are bereft and whose great heart is always touched by the sorrow of others, and, as the poet has said, that such afflictions as these bring us

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

----Conway Record, Sept. 7

[Wieser, Albert Jonathan]

Bedford Times-Republican

Thursday     December 21, 1916     [p. 1]

DROPPED DEAD IN TACOMA

ALBERT WIESER RECEIV’D SUDDEN SUMMONS

Was Raised in Bedford---Heart Failure Causes Demise—Funeral At Salem, Oregon

Word was received in Bedford on Monday shortly after noon, apprising relatives of the death of Albert [Jonathan] Wieser, which occurred that morning at Tacoma, Wash., his home. The deceased was at one time a resident of this city and will be remembered by many of our readers. He left Bedford some fifteen or eighteen years ago, going west, where he has since resided.

Mr. Wieser was about 45 years of age and married, leaving a widow but no children. He also leaves several brothers and sisters and a mother to mourn his demise, the latter, Mrs. Gid Wieser, resides in Bedford, but at the time of receiving the message here, she was visiting a daughter, Mrs. Mamie Bishop, at Omaha, Neb.

Mrs. Lesley Klopp of Bedford is a sister, and Charles of Clarinda, Iowa, and Victor of Hopkins, Mo., are brothers who reside in this vicinity.

The funeral will be held some time the latter part of this week at Salem, Oregon, but relatives from here will be unable to attend.

[Wieser, Albert Jonathan]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday      January 30, 1917      p. 4

Concerning Death of Late Albert J. Wieser

So many inquiries have been received by Mrs. Albert Wieser, from her Taylor County friends regarding the death of her husband, she has requested the paper to reprint the notice of his death taken from the Tacoma Daily News of December 19th.

Stricken with heart disease about 5 this morning, Albert J. [onathan] Wieser, age 41, division storekeeper of the Northern Pacific railroad, died in about a half hour at his home, 5802 South Warner Street. He and his wife were up until about midnight, busily engaged in wrapping Christmas packages to mail.

He had been in his usual health and there was no premonition of illness.

Born in Kentucky, he lived in Bedford, Iowa, and entered the service of the Northern Pacific Railway Company about 20 years ago. He was in the storekeepers’ department at Helena and Missoula before coming to the Pacific coast about 10 years ago. After spending a year in Seattle, he came to Tacoma in October, 1907. Besides his widow he leaves his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Wieser, at Bedford, Ia., several sisters and three brothers. He was the eldest of the family. Mrs. Wieser’s relatives live in Salem, Ore., and the body was taken there for burial.