Elmer Hemingway

ELMER HEMINGWAY

West Branch

Elmer E. Hemingway, 96, passed away July 2, 2016, at Prairie Meadows Senior Living in Kasson, Minn.

Elmer Eugene Hemingway was born April 8, 1920, near West Branch, Iowa, the son of Emery and Etta (Coulter) Hemingway. After his graduation from West Branch High School, he attended the State University of Iowa, where he developed a lifelong love of learning. Between his freshman and sophomore years he traveled in New England, demonstrating a new invention, the television.

From November 1941 to December 1945, Elmer worked in the Civilian Public Service (CPS), working at Buck Creek Camp near Marion, N.C., and Camp 108 near Gatlinburg, Tenn. During his time in the CPS, Elmer fought forest fires, repaired trails, maintained roads and performed other duties in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Elmer enjoyed taking his family back to the Great Smoky Mountains to attend CPS reunions and to share his love of the area.

In 1951, Elmer married E. Lucille Dahlgren. Together they raised their seven children on their farm near Iowa City. Elmer enjoyed family camping trips, canoeing, gardening, reading, traveling and all things French. He was very active in the Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs in West Branch and in Iowa City and in the AFS Student Exchange program. Elmer and Lucille welcomed a number of international students into their home over the years.

Elmer was a resident at Cookson Home in West Branch and Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty before he moved to Rochester, Minn., in 2009 for his care.

Elmer is survived by his children: Sarah Ferneding of Omaha, Neb., Susan (Allen) Artmann of East Hanover, N.J., Mark Hemingway of Urbandale, Jane (Bob) Quaintance of Byron, Minn., Martha (Andy) Schwandt of Marshalltown and Scott Hemingway of Issaquah, Wash.; as well as a daughter-in-law, Donna Hemingway Behlke. He also is survived by his nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; his brother, Keith Hemingway of rural Iowa City; and devoted companion, Margaret Wolfe of Wichita, Kan.

Elmer was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lucille; his sisters, Ada Glee Leet and Esther Murphy Burns; and his son, Paul.

A memorial visitation will be July 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch. A memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 30, at the funeral home, with additional visitation one hour before the service.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com.

His ashes will be interred in Oasis Cemetery, rural West Branch, at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to Boy Scouts, AFS Student Exchange Program or your local library.