JOE RHEA

Funeral services for J.C. Rhea were held in the Methodist Church at Fremont Saturday afternoon, May 11th, at 2:30 o’clock by Rev. F.E. Pfoutz. The burial was in the family lot in the Arlington cemetery, and services at the grave were in charge of the Arlington Masonic Lodge, of which Mr. Rhea was a member. The pallbearers at the cemetery were John and William Burgess, A.L. Cook, Clyde Cook, Dr. L.M. Peterson and George A. Marshall.

Mr. Rhea was born in Damascus, Virginia, February 3, 1870, and came to Nebraska with his parents when only two years old. The greater part of his life was spent here, he being a prominent farmer and stock raiser for many years.

On November 13, 1901 he was married to Miss Helena Misfeldt, who with five children, Bessie, Hester, Blanche, Marion and Mark, are left to mourn the passing of a loving and kind husband and father. There was a wealth of beautiful flowers, the gifts of loving friends who desired in this way to express their sympathy to the sorrowing relatives.

In 1925, the family moved to Fremont, and Mr. Rhea, still engaged in the cattle business at the time of his death which occurred May 7th in South Omaha, was engaged in buying stock for his large ranch in western Nebraska. Mr. Rhea was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and of the Fremont Kiwanis Club.

# 2 - - from The Enterprise, May 9, 1929

WELL KNOWN COUNTY MAN DIES SUDDENLY

Word has been received here of the sudden death of Joe Rhea, a former live stock raiser of the western part of the county, at South Omaha, Tuesday afternoon of heart disease. His death occurred in a physician’s office, where he had been taken after having been suddenly seized with illness.

At the time of his illness he was purchasing stock for a big ranch he owned in the western part of the state. He had completed his work of buying and told persons standing nearby he felt ill. They hurried him to the physician’s office but death came before any medical attention could be given to him.

For many years he had been prominent in raising horses and other live stock in the vicinity of Arlington. For a number of years he was a breeder of fine horses at Arlington, but sold his interests to his brother fourteen years ago. For the past several years he had managed his ranch in western Nebraska, although his home had been at Fremont.

Mr. Rhea was a native of Virginia. He came to Arlington over forty years ago and spent most of his life there. He moved his residence from Arlington to Fremont in 1924 and has resided in that place since that time. The family resides at present at 1406 North Broad street, Fremont.

During his residence in Arlington and Fremont he was prominent in a number of affairs. He was a member of the Masonic and Eastern Star lodges at Arlington.

Surviving are his wife, five children, Bess and Hester, New York City, and Blanche, Marion and Mark, at home; a brother, James, of Arlington; four sisters, Mrs. H.H. Gilfry, Arlington; Miss Margaret Rhea, Phoenix, Ariz.; Mrs. W.L. Noyes, Saskatoon, Canada; and Mrs. D.R. Martin, Austin, Minn.

#3-9 May, 1929 - The Pilot-Tribune

DIES SUDDENLY WHILE BUYING STOCK

Joe Rhea, Prominent Stock Raiser, Dies Tuesday in South Omaha

Joseph Erlham Rhea, 59, a livestock raiser and farmer formerly residing a few miles east of Arlington, died suddenly at South Omaha Tuesday afternoon from heart disease. His death occurred in a physician’s office, where he had been taken after having been suddenly seized with Illness.

At the time of his illness he was purchasing stock for a big ranch he owned in the western part of the state. He had completed his work of buying, and told persons standing nearby he felt ill. They hurried him to the physician’s office, but death came before any medical attention could be given him.

For a number of years he was a breeder of fine horses at Arlington, but sold his interests to his brother 14 years ago. For the past several years he had managed his ranch in western Nebraska, although his home had been at Fremont.

Mr. Rhea was a native of Virginia. He came to Arlington more than 40 years ago and spent most of his life there. He moved his residence from Arlington to Fremont in 1924, and has resided in that city since that time.

Surviving are his wife, five children, Bess and Hester, New York City, and Blanche, Marion and Mark at home; a brother, James of Arlington; four sisters, Mrs. H. H. Gilfry, Arlington; Miss Margaret Rhea, Phoenix, Ariz; Mrs. W. L. Noyes, Saskatoon, Canada; and Mrs. D. R. Martin, Austin, Minn.

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

FindaGrave #43007773