J. "Jack" W. Kirwan
Jack Kirwan, Well Known Saddlemaker Dies Here Suddenly
Jack W. Kirwan died suddenly Thursday afternoon, October 12, and funeral services were conducted on Tuesday, with interment being made in the Douglas cemetery.
Mr. Kirwan had been ill with the flu for a few days and telephoned Mrs. Fred Hansen, where he boarded, that he didn't feel like coming for his noon meal.
He roomed at the M. S. Jordan home and Mrs. Jordan had him eat his lunch with them and he seemed to be feeling better. Shortly after the meal Mrs. Jordan heard him moaning and rushed to his room to find him lying gasping on his bed. Dr. O. E. Torkelson was called, but Mr. Kirwan died in a few minutes.
He moved to Lusk in 1940 and for the past four years has been associated with T. C. Neilson in the Modern Shoe Shop in the making of saddles. This business expanded to such extent that during the past year Mr. Kirwan's work was principally that of stamping or decorating the leather, a task he especially liked.
He owned and operated a saddle making shop in Douglas for many years, and then moved to his ranch southwest of that city, where he lived for about eight years before coming to Lusk.
Funeral rites were conducted from the Peet Chapel on Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. Lawrence Juell, pastor of the Lusk Congregational Church, officiating.
Rev. Paul Hoover sang "Home, Sweet Home". He was accompanied by Mrs. J. P. Watson.
The casket bearers were Bryan Burge, Ray Baughn, Lloyd Pilcher, Ed Brow, Hans Gautschi and Dave Wilson.
Mr. and Mrs. Dodds of San Francisco, Calif. were here to attend the services. Mrs. Dodds is a sister of Mr. Kirwan. The employees of the Modern Shoe Shop and a number of friends, accompanied the remains to Douglas, where Masonic services were conducted at the grave by Ashlar Lodge No. 10 of Douglas.
Interment was made beside his wife, who preceded him in death a couple of years.