Friday, September 30, 2011

Condra Family Holds 79th Reunion

Seymour Herald - 22 September 2011
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  The 79th annual Condra family reunion was held August 14 at the Motel 60 conference room in Centerville with a co-op dinner. Edith Brown was recognized in honor of her 90th birthday. A moment of silence was held in memory of Dan Condra who had passed away this year. The afternoon was spent visiting and researching family history. The 80th reunion will be held the second Sunday of August 2012.
  Present were Marvin and Marilyn Condra of Unionville, Mo.; Harold Condra of Gladstone, Mo.; Carl Condra of Grain Valley, Mo.; Chris, Maribeth and Carly Condra of Blue Springs, Mo.; Duane and Judy Condra of Oak Grove, Mo.; John Condra of Kansas City, Mo.; Chuck and Ivy TGeater of Lenexa, Ks.; Tom and Terri Love of Olathe, Ks.; Marge Sutter of Ames; Gerald and Minnie Argo of Carlisle; Bryan and Katie McDanel and Ellen and Jeffrey of Monroe; Charles and Cassie Henderson and Abigayle and Austin of Seymour; Dwight Brown of Seymour; Elizabeth Conn, Edith Brown and Mary Louise Mathews of Centerville.

Loren Webster Van Dorn, 1894-1939

Unidentified Obituary in Veteran's Record
of American Legion Post No. 180 - Seymour IA
of which he was a Charter Member
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Services at Wellman for Loren Van Dorn
  Loren Webster Van Dorn was born in Appanoose county near Seymour, Iowa, September 27, 1894, and passed away at Knoxville, Iowa, Nov. 15, 1939 at the age of 45 years one month and 18 days. He was the eldest member of a family of seven children of George B. and Ellen Stoner Van Dorn. He was born and reared on the farm owned by his great grandfather, grandfather and father. He attended the rural school and later his parents moved nearer to Seymour to enable Loren and his brothers and sisters to attend the Seymour high school. From youth Loren applied himself very industriously to the tasks of the farm and studied most diligently in school.
  After graduation from high school in 1913, he and his father and brother Noah operated the two stock farms in partnership.
  On May 14, 1918, he entered the United States army at Centerville, Iowa. He served as private first class in the 313th Cavalry at Del Rio, Texas, and later in the 69th Field Artillery at Louisville, Kentucky. He was honorably discharged December 21, 1918. He resumed farming for several years and then entered the State University of Iowa where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1925. He was affiliated with the Phi Delta Gamma, a forensic fraternity and Rhoterian club, a debating society of which he served as president.
  On June 10, 1925, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Shetler of Wellman, Iowa, at Greeley, Colorado. They established their home in Boulder, Colorado, where their only child, Rosalind Marie, was born Aug. 14, 1926. During the 12 years of residence in Colorado Loren attended the University of Colorado several terms where he took post graduate work, and he taught for eight years in various Colorado schools serving as athletic coach or principal.
  For several years he operated a tire store and gasoline station in Boulder where Rosalind could receive proper medical treatment ... serious illness.
  On May 26, 1937, he was called back to Seymour by the sickness and death of his father. He then decided to move back to the farm to operate it and take care of his mother.
  In November, 1938, he was stricken down with a very serious illness known as Tularemia or "Rabbit Fever." For many months a high fever ravished his body, necessitating many surgical operations and hospitalization at various times. Gradually the fever subsided and he seemed to be on the road to recovery. He was always patient and hopeful that he would regain his health. Several weeks before his death he suffered a sudden relapse from which there seemed to be no apparent relief. It was decided best to move him to the Veterans Hospital at Knoxville for further care. He rapidly grew worse and passed away at 12 o'clock, Nov. 15, 1939. It was revealed that he suffered from acute Pericarditis of the heart.
  His passing away is a severe shock to his many friends and relatives and an almost unbearable grief to his wife, mother and daughter, who have almost constantly ministered to his needs during his long illness. He will also be greatly missed by his many relatives, friends and neighbors for he possessed an unusually pleasant, kindly disposition. He was truly a learned man, a generous friend and a most devoted father, husband and son.
  At Boulder, Colo., and in any school community he chanced to reside he took a most active part in Christian youth organizations. Always adhering to the principles of the Christ life, he rededicated his life to the furtherance of Christianity during his last illness.
  He leaves to mourn his wife, daughter, mother, two brothers, Noah of Rock Island, Ill., Earl of Seymour, three sisters, namely Opal Fox of Davenport, Orpha Weist and Alpha Brown of Seymour and a host of relatives and friends.
  The body was taken to Wellman, Iowa, for burial. Funeral services were held at the Baptist church Saturday, Nov. 18 at one o'clock. The Reverend Mr. and Mrs. Willis and Daniel Fisher conducted the services and a Mennonite ladies quartet rendered three beautiful selections. Six members of the American Legion served as pall bearers and the services at the grave were very impressive conducted by the Chas. Polton Post of the American Legion at the Wellman cemetery.
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CARD OF THANKS
  We wish to thank those who so kindly sent flowers and otherwise aided so generously during the long illness and the death of our loved one.
  Mrs. Mary E. Van Dorn and daughter Rosalind and Mrs. Ellen Van Dorn.
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Sources of Information
  The information above is included on the Veteran's Record, Iowa Graves Registration Form, and obituary included in the Veteran's Notebook [Pages 192-194] compiled by the American Legion Post #180 of Seymour, Iowa.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Matilda 'Tilly' Micetich Vruble, 1915-2011

Ad-Express and Daily Iowegian 
21 September 2011
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  NUMA — Matilda M. "Tilly" Vruble, 96, of Numa, died Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011 at Golden Age Care Center in Centerville. She was born the daughter of Philip and Jakomina (Polich) Micetich July 4, 1915 in Martinstown near Numa. She received her education in the Numa Community Schools in Numa.
  On July 29, 1933, Tilly was united in marriage to Stanley Vruble, Sr. at the St. Mary's Parish in Centerville. After their marriage, they lived in Jerome for a time then moved to Chicago, Ill. She was a homemaker and enjoyed working at St. Elizabeth's Hospital. In 1957 they moved to Melrose Park, Ill. where she would work part-time at JC Penny's. They were members of Sacred Heart Parish. They made several trips back to Jerome and Centerville area to visit family and friends. Beginning in the summer of 1972, they would spend summer time in Numa and they would spend winters in Melrose Park. In 1998, they would move back to Numa, where she would enjoy her gardening and was a member of the St. Mary's Parish in Centerville.
  She was preceded in death by: her parents; husband, Stanley Vruble, Sr. on March 29, 1999; sisters, Mary Azzolin, Anna Vruble and Victoria Micetich; brothers, Phillip, Charley and Angelo Micetich.
  Tilly is survived by: her sons, Stanley Vruble, Jr. of Numa, Benedict Vruble of Wheaton, Ill., Ronald and his wife, Nancy Vruble of Aurora, Ill. and Kenneth Vruble of Wheaton, Ill.; a daughter, Marlene and her husband, William Snyder of Elmhurst, Ill.; five grandchildren; one great-grandson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
  A Mass of Resurrection will be held Monday, Sept. 26 at 11 a.m. at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Centerville with Fr. Dennis Schaab, CPP.S officiating. Burial will follow at the Oakland Cemetery in Centerville. Visitation will be held Sunday, Sept. 25 at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville, from 2-8 p.m. with the family present from 6-8 p.m. and a Rosary held a 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
  Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church and left or mailed to the funeral home.
  The Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Centerville is caring for the Vruble family at this time and condolences can be sent at: schmidtfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Monday, September 5, 2011

An 1899-1900 Jerome Pupil Report Card

  In the records left to me by my aunt, Cadd Ruth Hawkins, was her report card from the Jerome School in 1899-1900.  She appears to have been an excellent student. After completing the program in Jerome, Cadd attended and graduated from the School of Nursing at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in Centerville.


Sunday, September 4, 2011

Seymour High School - Class of 1913

Seymour High School
15th Annual Commencement Exercises
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  I just came across in old family files saved by my aunt, Cadd Ruth Hawkins, an invitation to the 15th Annual Commencement Exercises of the Seymour High School for the Class of 1913, apparently sent to her by Loren W. Van Dorn, a member of the class, since his card was enclosed with the invitation.
  Loren Webster Van Dorn was born 27 September 1894 in Jerome, Lincoln Township, Appanoose County, Iowa, son of George Brittain Van Dorn and Ellen Abigail Stoner.  He was the grandson of Noah H. Stoner and Catherine Maddox and of Abraham S. Vandorn and Minerva Jan Vito.  His parents and grandparents are all buried in the Jerome Cemetery. 

 World War I - Draft Registation Card
of Loren Webster Van Dorn of Seymour, Iowa
 1913 Seymour High School Graduation Card
of Loren Webster Van Dorn

Invitation to the 
1913 Seymour High School Commencement Exercises
May 22 and 23, 1913