JAMES KIRBY PASSES OVER

DEATH CAME AT 7 THIS MORNING TO RELIEVE HIM OF HIS SUFFERING OF MANY YEARS

James Kirby passed peacefully away at about 7 o’clock this morning of paralysis, following many years of suffering from rheumatism. He had been very low for several days so his death was not unexpected.

The funeral service will be held at the First Lutheran church, at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon, following a short service at the Julius Petersen home at 1:30. Rev. H. Nielsen will conduct the service and make a short talk in Danish, while Rev. N.P. Lang of Chicago, formerly connected with Trinity Seminary for many years, will speak in the English language.

Mr. Kirby leaves no children. His wife is a sister of Mrs. Julius Petersen and of Mrs. A.R. Brock. His sister, Mrs. Don Milholm of Denver, came last Friday and was with him until the end came.

Mr. Kirby clerked for Julius Petersen in the hardware business for a number of years and later started the Coffee House, which he and his wife have conducted successfully for many years. For several years he has been so crippled up with rheumatism that he has been able to get about only in a wheel chair.

The complete obituary will be given next week. The bereaved family have the sincere sympathy of their many friends.

# 2 - - Pilot, January 2, 1929

KIRBY FUNERAL HELD FRIDAY

SHORT SERVICE HELD AT THE JULIUS PETERSEN HOME AND FUNERAL AT DANISH CHURCH AT 2 O’CLOCK

The funeral of James Kirby, whose death occurred at 6:45 on the evening of Christmas day was held at the First Lutheran church at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon, following a short service at the Julius Petersen home. Rev. H. Nielsen had charge of the service, speaking in Danish and Rev. N.P. Lang of Chicago, formerly connected with Trinity Seminary, spoke in the English language.

The church was well filled with the many old friends and relatives and the floral tributes were very beautiful. Burial was in the Blair cemetery. The music was furnished by Prof. Waldo B. Nielsen of Dana College, Miss Viola Hansen and Sven Baden.

James Kirby was born in Kolding, Denmark, January 27th, 1872, so was almost 57 years of age. His mother died when he was but two years old. His father came to this country upon the advice of his physician, for his father was a sufferer from rheumatism in a very severe form.

They settled in Omaha in 1883, where Mr. Kirby attended school for a number of years. He was united in marriage to Miss Tena Christensen of St. Paul, Neb., April 23rd, 1906. Shorty after their marriage, Mr. Kirby suffered a paralytic stroke from which he never fully recovered, though he improved and was able to get about fairly well for some years.

They came to Blair in 1909 and Mr. Kirby worked for A.R. Brock in the hardware store for several years until he established the Blair Coffee House, which he conducted until his death, though he had been able to get about only in a wheel chair for some years, owing to his rheumatic condition, suffering much as his father did before his death.

He died on Christmas day, his mother also died on Christmas day when he was but two years of age. Besides his wife he is survived by one sister, Mrs. L.H. Milholm of Denver, who was here a few days before his death. Another sister, Mrs. A. Nielsen, lives in Denmark. There are three half brothers, George and Morris of Ord, Neb., and Henry lives in Denver.

Mr. Kirby was a lover of the beautiful in nature and had visited most of the beauty spots in the United States.

Mrs. Kirby is a sister of Mrs. Julius Petersen and Mrs. A.R. Brock of this city. She will continue to run the Coffee House for the present, at least.

CARD OF THANKS: We wish in this way to express our sincere thanks to the neighbors and friends for the great kindness shown us during the illness and for the manifest sympathy shown after the death of James Kirby. We want to especially thank the ministers and singers for their kindly services and all those who sent the many beautiful flowers. MRS. JAMES KIRBY AND RELATIVES

#3-Tribune 27 Dec 1928

James Kirby Dies

Illness Takes Respected Citizen After Months of Suffering

Death came to the relief of James Kirby, after a long siege of illness, Christmas night at the family home in this city. Funeral services will be held from the home at 1:30 Friday afternoon and from the Danish Lutheran church at 2:00 o’clock, Rev. Nielsen of this city and Rev. Lang of Chicago officiating.

Mr. Kirby came to Blair a number of years ago and although a partial invalid entered into business and established the city’s first coffee house, doing his own blending and roasting. He built up a fine business with the aid of Mrs. Kirby, and continued in active management of the business until about a year or more ago when he suffered a siege of illness, from the effects of which he never fully recovered, although able to be around in a wheeled chair at various times.

Mr. Kirby was 57 years old and in his passing the community loses a public spirited citizen, well liked and respected by all who came in contact with him.

Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file at the Blair Public Library.