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Gordon H. McElwain, 90

Gordon H. McElwain, 90, of Blair, died Tuesday, March 29, 2005, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, April 1, at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair. Interment will be at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Elkhorn.

Gordon H. McElwain was born July 14, 1914, in Charter Oak, Iowa, to Ora and Gladys (Harley) McElwain. He attended Woodbine High School.

After finishing school, he worked for two summers for the Northern Pacific Railroad across North Dakota. In the winters, he worked as a woodcutter. During this time, from the age of 19 to 23, he trained as a boxer, fighting in the 147-pound welterweight class. Over that four-year time period, he fought in 24 professional fights all around Iowa, winning 20. He also served as a boxing referee.

In 1937, he joined the Navy, and eventually served aboard the USS Tennessee, the USS Enterprise, the USS Saratoga, and the USS Wasp, as a first class musician. He played the piano for church services for eight years and the dance band. He also played the clarinet and saxophone and was a member of the orchestra. While in the Navy, his mother, composed and dedicated the song, “Sailor Boy,” to her son, which was published in 1939 by Westmore Music Corporation.

Boxing continued to play a role in his life. While serving aboard the Tennessee, he trained the heavyweight boxer who went on to win the “All Navy Heavyweight Champion” title, competing among all the boxers on Navy ships in both the Atlantic and Pacific. Once, while in New York, he had the opportunity to meet and visit with the great boxing champion, Jack Dempsey.

In 1945, he received an honorable discharge from the Navy. After his return from the service, he lived in Colorado with his brother Merril.

On Jan. 20, 1951, he married Irene Barsby in Onawa, Iowa.

Mr. McElwain worked for O’Neal Packing for 29 years as a head boner. During the same time, he researched the genetics of mink while working for the state, worked on a mink farm in Anthon, Iowa, and later had his own mink ranch during the 1950s.

Eventually, he moved to Blair, where he studied physics, composed music, and compiled car payment booklets. He enjoyed his only grandson, Tyler.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Carol Ann and Mark Geick of Elkhorn; one grandson; stepchildren, Jane Burke, Gene and Bill Clark, and brother, Merril McElwain of Woodbine, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene; sister, Hazel Nelsen; and brother, Russell McElwain.

World Herald 31 March 2005

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McElwain – Gordon H., age 90, of Blair, NE. Survived by Daughter and Son-in-Law, Carol Ann and Mark Geick of Elkhorn, NE; Grandson, Tyler; Step-Children, Jane Burke and Gene and Bill Clark; Brother Merril McElwain of Woodbine, IA.

Services Fri. 11 am at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair, NE. Burial will be at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Elkhorn, NE. Family will receive friends from 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home Blair, NE 402-426-2191

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