John "Jack" William Gartrell

Jack Gartrell Dies Friday, Aged 75

Jack Gartrell, 75, died at the Spencer Hospital Friday morning at 8:50. He had been a resident of Lusk since 1920.

Funeral services were held at the Peet Mortuary Sunday afternoon at 2:30 with Rev. Frank Schweissing in charge. Pallbearers were Earl Criss, John Irons, Roger Percival, Fred Hanson, Sam Coen and R. V. Pfister. Music was provided by Mrs. Emerson Bonner and Mrs. A. F. DeCastro accompanied by Miss Alice Fowler, organist. Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery.

John William Gartrell was born at Hopkins, Mo., Jan 12, 1877, the son of John R. and Sarah M. Gartrell and spent his youth there and at Gravity, Ia. In 1900 he moved to Buffalo, Wyo. Nov. 16, 1902 he was married to Eva M. Waggoner at Gravity, Ia.

The family moved from Buffalo to Lusk in 1920 where he was first employed on the Chicago and North Western Railroad. Later he entered the dairy and farming business retiring in 1944.

Surviving him are his wife, one son, Orville J. Gartrell of Chicago and two sisters, Mrs. B. B. Nevius of Aurora, Colo., and Mrs. Harry Emanuel of Lakewood, Colo. Two children previously died, Leila M. at the age of 16 and Earl at the age of 23.

Lusk Free Lance

Jack W. Gartrell, 32-Year Resident of Lusk, Passes Away at Spencer Hospital Friday; Last Rites and Burial Sunday

Death last Friday morning claimed John William Gartrell, resident of Lusk since 1920, and for all those years better known as just "Jack" to a wide circle of admiring and respecting acquaintances, young and old. Mr. Gartrell's demise came after he had been hospitalized for one week at the Spencer hospital, and was said to have been attributed to infirmities of advanced age. He had attained the age of 75 years, 6 months and 27 days.

Two weeks before his death, Mr. Gartrell had fallen from his bed, suffering a sprained back according to members of his family, but it was declared by the family's physician that this did not hasten his passing.

Surviving are his wife, Eva M.; one son, Orville of Chicago, Ill., who was called when his father was first hospitalized; and two sisters, Mrs. B.B. Nevius of Aurora, Colo., and Mrs. Harry Emanuel of Lakewood, Colo. Two children, a daughter, Leila M., and one son, Earl, preceded him in death. A host of friends, acquired during his long residence here, also mourn his demise.

Last services were conducted from the chapel of the Peet funeral home at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon, August 10th. Rev. Frank Schweising, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lusk, officiated at the services. Singers were Mrs. Emerson Bonner and Mrs. A. F. DeCastro, who offered "Abide With Me" and "Sometime." Accompaniment at the chapel organ was by Miss Alice Fowler.

The remains were conveyed to the Lusk cemetery where interment was made. Casketbearers were Earl M. Criss, John Irons, Roger Percival, Fred Hansen, Sam Coen and R. V. Pfister.

Mr. Gartrell was born at Hopkins, Mo., January 12, 1877, the son of John R. and Sarah M. Gartrell. He spent his early life there and at Gravity, Ia., moving to Buffalo, Wyo., in 1900. On November 16th, 1902, he returned to Gravity, Ia., where he was married to Miss Eva M. Waggoner, afterwards returning to Buffalo where they made their home until 1920.

It was in that year that the family moved to Lusk, where Mr. Gartrell entered employment with the Chicago & North Western railroad, remaining in that employ for a number of years,. He later became engaged in farming and dairying on a tract of land northeast of this city, retiring from that life in 1944. He and Mrs. Gartrell that year moved into town and took up residence at their present home on south Oak Street.

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