Roscoe Wilbur DeLa (1875-1917)

DELA, DE LA, HANSON, OLDHAM, HARWOOD, STOREY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/16/2025 at 18:32:11

From Jewell Record May 3, 1917 (page 1)

DR. R. W. DELA DIED YESTERDAY

Although it had been known for a month past that his death might occur any day, it was a real shock when the word came that Dr. R. W. De La had passed away at seven-thirty o'clock yesterday forenoon at the hospital in Webster City. Acute dilation of the heart is given as the cause of death. Dr. De La had been seriously sick for two years with nephritis with contributory myocarditis. Gas poisoning, atrophying the muscles of the heart, is believed to have been the original cause of his breakdown, and the heart being unable to properly perform its functions in purifying the blood, the liver and kidneys were over worked and gradually became affected. Everything that skilled medical science could do was done, and temporary improvement frequently was secured during the two of his illness. Five weeks ago, however, his condition again became critical and he returned to the hospital for treatment but failed gradually until the end.

The body was brought home to Jewell, and funeral services ill be held here Friday afternoon of this week, at one o'clock from the home and at one-thirty from the Lutheran church. Interment will be made in Evergreen cemetery.

Roscoe Wilbur De La, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. De La, was born at Perry, Iowa, April 24, 1875, and died at Webster City, May 2, 1917, aged 42 years and 8 days. He graduated from the College of Dentistry of Drake University and located in Jewell sixteen years ago, successfully practicing his profession until he was compelled because of ill health to give up his practice two years ago. He was married October 12, 1904, to Miss Anna Hansen of Jewell to which union two daughters were born, Maxine and Mildred. The wife and two children survive him, also his father and mother and four sisters, Mrs. Jessie Oldham of Perry, Miss Mildred De La of Chicago, Mrs. Pearl Harwood of Minneapolis, and Mrs. W. F. Storey of Colorado Springs.

Dr. De La was a man of the strongest convictions and of exceptional moral courage. He was unusually widely informed and always deeply interested in every phase of public activity, whether local or of a wider interest. His opinions always were based upon a previous careful study and thought concerning the matter at issue, and invariably were well founded. His opinions once formed he was determined in fighting for his views and was absolutely fearless. As is invariably the case when a man takes as active concern in public affairs as he did and possessed the strength of conviction and the positive determination that he possessed, Dr. De La frequently met with strong opposition. One thing even his strongest opponents always admitted. Whether his views might be right or wrong, nobody ever questioned but that in all matters of public concern he acted from a conscientious conviction that he was right. He served many years on the town council stood and worked for the things that he believed were for the good of his town. He was twice chosen as the chairman of the county central committee of the progressive party, and his tireless efforts for his party were to him a work for a thing that he believed to be morally right. At the first state convention of that party he worked hard for the adoption of a prohibition plank and voted the Hamilton county delegation for prohibition because he believed that the time had come when the liquor business ought to be driven out of the nation.

Dr. De La was in many particulars a strong character with many good qualities. As a friend he was true and loyal, and he was generous to a fault. His death is sincerely regretted and mourned wherever he was known, and his bereaved wife and daughters have the deepest sympathy of all in their loss of husband and father.