BLAIR BUSINESS WOMAN STRICKEN AFTER BRIEF ILLNESS

Mrs. James Kirby Passes Away Monday At Blair Hospital

Blair friends were shocked when the news of the death of Mrs. James Kirby was reported. She had been a sufferer from diabetes for some time, but the trouble was not considered serious. She had been ailing with what was thought to be a bad cold for about a week, and on last Friday she was taken to the Blair hospital where she grew steadily worse and passed away at 1:15 o’clock Monday morning.

Seven years ago her husband passed on, and since that time Mrs. Kirby has carried on the business of the Kirby Coffee House, living alone with the exception of the constant visitations of her sisters, Mrs. A. R. Brock and Mrs. Julius Petersen, who never neglected to keep in close touch with her at all times.

Mrs. Kirby was a woman of sterling qualities, and her life of pure devotion to her friends and relatives was a most remarkable example and truly worthy of emulation.

She was born in Wisconsin February 26, 1875. The family moved to Howard County, Nebraska, and for a long term of years made that county their home. Here she met and married James Kirby, and twenty six years ago she and her husband came to Blair which has since been her home.

She leaves to mourn her death two sisters, Mrs. A. R. Brock and Mrs. Julius Peterson, both of Blair and a brother, Sam Christensen of Kansas and a sister-in-law residing at Venango, Nebraska.

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:15 o’clock from the Bendorf Funeral Home and at the First Lutheran church at 2:30. Interment will be made in the Blair cemetery.

#2 Kirby, Tena (Christensen), 61

Published in Pilot Tribune on 12 March 1936

MRS. TENA KIRBY DIED IN HOSPITAL HERE AT AGE 61

PROPRIETOR OF THE COFFEE HOUSE WILL BE BURIED THIS AFTERNOON

An illness of one week proved fatal at 1:15 a.m. Monday to Mrs. Tena Kirby, 61, proprietor of The Coffee House, long a downtown rendezvous for Danish residents. Mrs. Kirby succumbed at Court View hospital, where she had been confined for several days.

Since the death of her husband, the late James Kirby, she had operated The Coffee House alone. Mr. Kirby died on Christmas day, 1928.

Native of Dane county, Wisconsin, Mrs. Kirby was born February 26, 1875 as Tena Christensen. She came to Nebraska as a young woman.

Wed at Grand Island

At Grand Island in April, 1906, she and Mr. Kirby were married. They resided in Blair for many years, he being employed in various business houses of the city.

Surviving Mrs. Kirby are two sisters, Mrs. Julius Petersen and Mrs. A.R. Brock of Blair, and two brothers, James Christensen of Waunakee, Wisconsin, and Samuel Christensen of McPherson, Kansas, formerly of Blair.

Funeral services are being conducted this afternoon at 2:30 at First Lutheran church. The Rev. James N. Lund, pastor, is officiating. Interment will be in Blair cemetery by the side of her late husband.

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

FindaGrave # 110740736