John Henry Lohr

Funeral Services For John H. Lohr, Retired Niobrara County Pioneer, to Be Held Friday; Interment at Kirtley

Death came quietly to John H. Lohr, retired pioneer rancher of Niobrara County, at 11:20 p.m. this (Thursday) evening at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Erlewine in this city. The deceased had been ill for the past several weeks, and his death is said to have been caused by a heart condition.

Services are scheduled for two o'clock Friday afternoon, July 30th, from the chapel of Peet Funeral Home, with Rev. Jacob Nein, pastor of the Congregational Christian Church officiating. Burial will be made in the family plot in the cemetery at Kirtley.

John Henry Lohr was born August 1, 1872, at Manhattan Island, New York, a son of Andrew and Barbara (Kemp) Lohr, and he passed away on Thursday, July 29, 1954 at Lusk, Wyoming at the age of 81 years, 11 months and 28 days.

When he was an infant of one year his parents brought their family westward to Colfax County, Nebraska where they homesteaded. They made their home there for eight years, living but two years on the homestead. From Colfax County they moved to Schuyler, Nebr., where they resided for six years and then moved back to Brooklyn, New York.

The deceased at the age of 14 years returned to the West, settling for a time at Schuyler, Nebr. On January 12, 1891 he came to Wyoming and when he became of age filed on a homestead on Plum Creek.

In 1896, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie Grimes. Two years later they moved to the Kirtley community where they established a ranch and became engaged in livestock raising. On January, 1915, Mrs. Lohr passed away, and Mr. Lohr was left with several small youngsters to rear.

Mr. Lohr was twice married, and on May 20, 1915. Mrs. Dora Sporleder became his wife. The couple made their home on the Lohr ranch in the Kirtley community where they together reared a large family, until March 11, 1929, when Mrs. Lohr passed away. In 1949 Mr. Lohr disposed of his ranching interests and moved to Lusk where he had since made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Glen Erlewine and family.

Survivors include ten children, Mrs. Angie Hanson, Harrison, Nebr., Harlan Lohr, Kirtley, Wyo., Bob Lohr, Martin's Mill, Texas; Mrs. Dolly Jones , Nampa, Idaho, Roy Lohr, New Iberia, La. Ted Lohr, Lusk, Wyo., Mrs. Iris Erlewine, Lusk, Wyo. Mrs. Verda Erlewine, Glendo, Wyo., Sam Lohr Mountain City, Nev., and three step-children, Mrs. Mary Teterman and Mrs. Dorothy Francis, Big Springs, Nebr., and Clarence Sporleder, Van Tassell, Wyo.

He was preceded in death by both his wives, five sons, George, Ralph, Frank, Edward and Ray Lohr, and a step-son Fred Sporleder.

Thon Book No. 7
John Lohr Dies of Heart Attack July 28

Heart failure claimed the life of John H. Lohr, 81, long time resident of Niobrara County, Wednesday, July 28th at 11:20 p.m.

He is survived by 10 children, five sons and five daughters; Angie Hanson, Harrison; Harlan Lohr, Kirtley; Bob Lohr, Martin's Mill, Texas; Dolly Jones, Nampa, Idaho; Roy Lohr, New Iberia, La; Ted Lohr, Lusk; Iris Erlewine, Lusk; Verda Erlewine, Glendo; Sam Lohr, Mountain City, Nevada and Doris Lohr, Salt Lake City, Utah. He also leaves to mourn his passing, one sister, Martha Larson and three step-children; Mary Peterman and Dorothy Francis of Big Springs, Nebraska; Clarence Sporleder, Van Tassell; and 41 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, as well as many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Annie Lohr and his second wife, Dora Lohr; and by five sons, George, Ralph, Frank, Ray and Edward. And one step-son Fred Sporleder.

Funeral services were conducted at the Peet Chapel at 2:00 o'clock, Friday afternoon with Rev. Jacob Nein officiating. The songs "in the Valley" and "I Won't Have to Cross Jordan Alone" were sung by Gerald Bardo, O. E. Maxfield, Dan Christian and Rex Yocum. With Mrs. J. P. Watson accompanying on the chapel organ. Casket bearers were his nephews: Ralph Larson, Warren Larson, Ray Larson, Warren Larson, Ben Sturman, Hial Streeter and Clarence Streeter. Honorary pallbearers were: Len Christian, Andrew Christian, Ray Christian, O. P. Harnagel, Roy ZumBrunnen, Arthur Thompson, Anthon Hansen and Joe Bartos.

John Lohr, youngest and only son of Andrew and Barbara Lohr, was born in New York City on Manhattan Island in 1872. when he had reached the age of one year, his family moved to Nebraska and filed on a homestead in Colfax County. They remained in Nebraska for eight years, spending only two years of that time on the homestead. Those two years were beset with trials. One fire completely destroyed the family home. Soon after this, they lost most of their animals and much of their pasture in a prairie fire. The family moved to Schuyler, Nebraska. After spending 6 years there, they returned to Brooklyn, New York. At he age of eight, John was forced to work in an oil refinery to help augment the family income. When he was 14, he returned to Schuyler, Nebraska, and on January 12, 1891, he came to Lusk. When he became of age, he filed on a homestead on Plum Creek and was living there when he married Annie Grimes on November 11, 1896. In 1898 he moved to the Kirtley Community where he resided until 1949 when he retired from his ranching interests and moved to Lusk to make his home with a daughter, Iris Erlewine. Annie Lohr died on January 24, 1913, leaving John with a group of young children to rear. Kind neighbors assisted during those trying times. On May 20, 1915, John married Sporleder. She died March 11, 1929.

John Lohr was one of the early settlers of the Kirtley Community and, as such, he experienced all of the rigors of pineer life. Best with hardships, he never asked for an easy life, but for the strength to meet the trials as they came.

He engaged in the ranching business until 1949 when he sold his ranch to a son, Harlan Lohr.

John was an avid reader and an enthusiastic baseball fan. He had a remarkable memory and could recount with extreme accuracy the events of the early days.

He was a kind and loving father. Three of his outstanding characteristics were his honesty, his unselfish nature and his ability to face each day with no complaint.

Roy Lohr, of New Iberia, La. was the only child of the late Mr. Lohr that was unable to attend his father's funeral.

Out of town relatives for the funeral were: Bob Lohr, of Martins Mill, Texas; Mrs. Delbert Jones and Caroline of Nampa, Idaho; Mr. and Mrs. Sam Lohr of Mountain City, Nevada; Mr. and Mrs. Wilson and Carl Peterman and Mrs. Dorothy Francis and Mary of Big Springs, Neb.; Mr. and Mrs. Guy Hanson of Harrison: Mr. and Mrs. Jack Geyser of Ardmore, South Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. John Erlewine, Kay and Linda of Glendo; Mrs. Peter Meike of Sussex, Wyo.; Mrs Ernest Vest of Kaycee, Wyo.; Clarence, Paul, and Hial Streeter of Buffalo, Wyo.; Roland Streeter and Annie of Kaycee, Wyo. and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Montgomery of Torrington.

Note: One of the above obituaries states the date of dealth as July 28, and the other July 29. The National Genealogical Index has July 28, but also has his name as John Harlan Lohr instead of John Henry Lohr.

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