Ira Piper of Calhoun Dies Suddenly

Ex-Mayor, 50, Long Prominent In Civic Affairs, Dies Suddenly

Victim of a sudden heart attack, former Mayor Ira Piper of Fort Calhoun was found dead at his home there last Thursday afternoon by his wife when she went into the room to awaken him from a nap. He was 50 years old.

Long prominent in civic affairs at Fort Calhoun, Mr. Piper had given no indication of illness when he went to his home at noon. His death came as a shock to family and friends.

Mr. Piper, a resident of Fort Calhoun for 22 years, was mayor for several terms, declining to run for reelection last spring. Operator of a service station, he was a member of the Presbyterian church, Tangier Shrine of Omaha and Solomon Lodge No. 10, A.F. & A. M., of Florence.

Many Attend Funeral

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the Fort Calhoun Presbyterian church, the Rev. Layton Jackson officiating. So great was the throng of mourners that not all could gain admittance to the church. Interment, under direction of the Sievers Funeral Home, was in Fort Calhoun cemetery. The Masonic lodge had charge of graveside rituals.

Mr. Piper was born Apr. 24, 1896, at St. Paul, Nebr. The family later moved to Illinois and a few years later to Minnesota. He and Miss Dora Bolln of Fort Calhoun were married in 1924. His wife died in 1934, and in 1936 he was married to Goldie Smith of Fort Calhoun.

Surviving are his widow, Goldie; one son, Tommy, of Fort Calhoun; two daughters, Mrs. Harold Swanson of Omaha and Carol of Fort Calhoun; his mother, Mrs. Arthur Piper; a sister, Mrs. Myrtle Kuehn of Breckenridge, Minn. and a brother, Ray Piper of Minneapolis, Minn.

#2-26 Dec., 1946 - The Enterprise

IRA PIPER DIES OF HEART ATTACK DECEMBER 19TH

Prominent In Calhoun Business And Civic Affairs

Ira Piper, for several years mayor of Ft. Calhoun and prominent in church and all civic activities and in business, died at his home in that city on Thursday, December 19th, following a heart attack.

He was born in St. Paul, Nebraska on April 24, 1896, and came to Calhoun a number of years ago. He was first married to Miss Dora Bolin who died in 1934. Later he married Mrs. Golda Smith, who with three children, survive him.

From the first he took an active part in civic affairs and served several terms as mayor of Ft. Calhoun. He was also a member of Solomon Lodge No. 10 A.F. and A.M. of Calhoun and of the commanders in Blair and the Shrine in Omaha. He was a member of the American Legion of Blair and of the Presbyterian church in Calhoun.

Besides the members of the immediate family, he leaves a mother and sister of Breckenridge, Minnesota, and a brother who resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

As a man, deceased ranked high among his fellowmen. He was well like in his community and never shirked a responsibility and he will be greatly missed.

Funeral rites were held last Sunday from the Presbyterian church in Calhoun with Rev. Layton Jackson officiating, and interment was made in the Calhoun cemetery.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~