Frank William Heers (1859-19390

HEERS, MILLER, CHRISTENSON, BALDUS, LUND, NELSON, TEIG

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 9/14/2024 at 16:48:28

From Story City Herald March 9, 1939 (page 1)

F. W. HEERS DIED OF STROKE

Well Known Citizen Stricken with Apoplexy Friday Afternoon and Passed Away Within a Few Minutes--Funeral was Held Monday.

The people of the community were exceedingly shocked Friday afternoon when the news spread abroad that Frank W. Heers had passed away.

Death came to him just as he was about to start his car on main street to go to his home. Mrs. Heers was with him, and noticed that his head suddenly went backward. Others nearby on the sidewalk noticed it too, and quickly helpful hands were reached out to get him to Dr. Lekwa's office. Here he succumbed without regaining consciousness.

Funeral Held Monday

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon. Rev. G. L. Bergeman, assisted by Rev. C. D. Wendel, officiated. Mrs. Horace Smith sang two solos: "Rock of Ages" and "The Old Rugged Cross." The pall bearers were: A. G. Larson, J. H. Johnson, Pete Peterson, Jas. M. Smith, Geo. Templer and Martin Jensen. Interment was made in Center cemetery.

Obituary

Frank William Heers was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on March 2, 1859, and died of apoplexy on the street in Story City on Friday, March 3, 1939, at the age of 80 years and one day.

He grew to early manhood in Des Moines, attended school and worked in the Patent Office there, where, but for a turn of fate, his future work lay. Instead, at the age of 21, he came to Story county to break sod on, what was pretty much wild prairie west of Story City. After one year of "batching it," he returned to marry his school-girl sweetheart, Miss Jennie Miller, on February 15, 1883. They moved to the farm that spring, and started their home on the land five miles west of town, making a real home and farm out of the swamps and gently rolling hills.

Nine children were born to them there, three of whom preceded their father to the Heavenly Home: Ralph, the first born, died in infancy; Hazel, the youngest, died in 1904, and Laura, wife of Ira Christenson and mother of Paul and Marjorie, passed on in 1918. Six children, with their families, remain with their mother to cherish his memory. They are Walter and wife of Atlantic; Harry and wife and four sons of Corona, Cal.; Ethel Baldus and husband, Roy, and two daughters of El Monte, Cal.; Ray and wife and nine children of Amboy, Minn.; Mabel Lund-Nelson and husband Walter, and children, Laura June Lund and Arnold Lund; Mamie Teig and husband, Mandus, and five children of Story City. All but the son and daughter who live in California were present at the funeral.

In the year 1925 his farm home was destroyed by fire and he moved to Story City with his good wife and established a home there. He became "subscription man" for the Des Moines Register and Tribune and for the local Story City Herald. Working at that job more or less constantly, he made many new subscribers and friends, as well as kept renewals of old subscribers and old friends.

F. W. Heers was a member of Grace Evangelical church and took an active interest in all its activities, being a member and part time teacher of the Fathers' Sunday school class, and a real student of the Word of God. He was a man of high ideals, with a great love for his fellowman, and interested in the welfare of his community as well as in the larger activities of his country. His active interest in others and in his work continued until the moment of his death.

In closing this brief summary of a life so abundant in its joys and sorrows, so full of influence ad significance, I would like to quote these lines of his own, the Blessing that his family and friends have heard him speak so often at meal time: "We thank the heavenly Father, for this food and its intended use, for the many manifestations of Thy kindness; Forgive us out many imperfections, and, when life's pilgrimage upon earth is ended, receive us all into Thy kingdom, with glory forever. Amen.