Lee Roscoe

LEE ROSCOE was born in Shenandoah, IA, and attended grade school there, but quit school in the Seventh Grade to help support the family. His first job was picking strawberries for Henry Field's and working in the nursery fields. Following a term in Jake Kennesberg's store, and was selling shoes in Andrews store at the time of his marriage. He joined the Catholic Church, prior to his marriage, and took the baptismal name of LEE JOSEPH, dropping the "Buel". He was a Fourth Degree Knight, Knights of Columbus, and a member of the Elks Club.
He moved to the farm of John Shunick a year after his marriage, and learned farming. In 1927, they purchased a farm near Blanchard, IA, where they lived for three years. They lost this farm in the depression, and moved back to the Shunick farm in 1930. Following John Shunick's death, LEE ROSCOE took up trucking, moved to California for a few months, and then returned to the Midwest to work for Berigan Brothers Livestock Commission, at the Omaha Stockyards. He also operated a restaurant and tavern in Farragut, IA. The pre-retirement years were spent with Sondag and Roscoe John Deere dealership in Shenandoah, IA. He retired following his son, Jack's, death in 1972, and lived his last year with his daughter, Helen (Rosoce) Laughlin, in Imogene, IA.

June 30th,1914 ROSCOE-SHUNICK WEDDING SOLEMNIZED THIS MORNING
"The marriage of Mr. Lee Roscoe and Miss Blanche Shunick took place this morning at 9 o'clock, in St. Mary's church, Rev. Father Toher officiating. The bride and groom were attended by Miss Anne McCahill, cousin of the bride, as maid of honor and Walter Roscoe, of Ottumwa, the groom's brother, as groomsman. Tracy Bess Owens [sic], the little niece of the groom, was flower girl. The bride wore a gown of white taffeta and a long veil fastened with white flowers and carried a shower bouquet of white rosebuds. The maid of honor was dressed in pale green with a tiny lace cap and carried pink roses. The little flower girl wore a simple white dress, on her head was a lace cap fastened with a wreath of tiny green leaves. After the ceremony the relatives went to the Delmonico hotel where the wedding breakfast was served. The bride is a daughter of J.W. Shunick and for the past few years has been his housekeeper. The groom is a son of Mr. and Mrs. S.I. Roscoe and is clerk in the Anderson shoe store. They have a bungalow furnished on Sycamore street, where they will to go housekeeping at once." 

From "Southwest Iowa's Heritage - A History of Page & Fremont Counties" Bicentennial Edition, 1976
Lee Roscoe was the son of Sherman I. Roscoe and of Martha Fuller, born in Unadilla Forks, NY. Lee and Blanche lived in Shenandoah while he worked in Jake Kenningsburg's store and Darrah's shoe store before moving to the John Shunick farm where their five children were born. After leaving the farm, he worked for the Berrigan Brothers Livestock Commission Co., Omaha Stock Yards and retired to son Jack Roscoe's John Deere Implement store in Shenandoah.

From The Evening Sentinel, July 7, 1934
L. ROSCOE TO HOSPITAL 
Treated for Burns Received When Motor Exploded at Home
"Lee Roscoe, farmer living northwest of town, who as seriously burned Monday when he tried to extinguish the flames which had enveloped his wife's clothing shortly after a gasoline motor exploded while they were doing the regular weekly washing, was brought to town by his son, John, this morning, to receive treatment at the Hand hospital. He returned home again. Mrs. Roscoe died yesterday afternoon from burns received in the explosion.
"It will be some time before Mr. Roscoe will be able to work again because of the severity of the burns on his hands. He was also burned on the face and head, but not so seriously. Work on his farm will continue because he has four daughters who can take care of the home and his hired hands the field work. Mr. Roscoe has better than an 800 acre farm. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. S.I. Roscoe of Shenandoah."

Shenandoah Eveining Sentinel Tuesday, November 7, 1972

OBITUARY LEE JOSEPH ROSCOE

"A requiem mass, concelebrated by the Rev. Gerald Deere and the Rev. Gordon Gittens, was held in the memory of Lee Joseph Roscoe Oct. 30 at St. Mary's Catholic Church.
"Dr. J.P. Emge was lector and serving were Mike Burmania, Kevin Emge and Brian Farrell. Ushers were Joe Madsen, Jack Merwin, Gerald O'Brien and Joe Ryan. Mrs. John Jorgenson was in charge of memorial registration and Mrs. Allen Adkins and Mrs. Carrol Hamilton were on the floral committee.
"Bearers were Larry Greedy, Larry Latimer, David Laughlin, Ed Laughlin, Mark Laughlin, Leo Laughlin, Tony Schenk, Mike York, Perry York and Rex York.
"Out of town relatives attending included Paul Roscoe and daughter, Mrs. Pam Lauar, Topeka, Kans.; Mrs Lola Stevens and daughter, Mrs. Ben Bowne, Ottumwa, and Mrs. W.L. Stewart and Mary Alice Stewart, Omaha.
"Lee J. Roscoe, second son of Martha Fuller Roscoe and Sherman I. Roscoe was born in Shenandoah Feb. 26, 1891 and attended schools here. His first job was scraping bricks to build Forest Park school. He worked for Jake Kennisberger in his department store and in the shoe department of Darrah's store until his marriage June 30, 1914 to Blanche G. Schunick [sic]. He was engaged in farming at the Schunick [sic] farm until 1942 when he moved to Farragut and was employed at trucking and farming. Later his parents came to live with him there and he operated the Farragut Tavern. In 1950, he purchased the Farragut Restaurant. Later he worked in Omaha for a commission firm at the stockyards.
"Mr. Roscoe spent the last 15 years with his son Jack in the implement business. He retired Aug. 1 of 1972.
"He is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Matt (Helen) Laughlin, Imogene; Mrs. Richard (Mildred) Greedy, Wenatchee, Wash.; Mrs. Lyle (Harriette) Latimer, Farragut; Mrs. Richard (Mary) York, Farragut, one daughter-in-law, Mrs. Jack (Verena) Roscoe, Shenandoah and two brothers, Paul Roscoe, Topeka, Kans., and E.D. (Pete), Paromaent [sic}.
"He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Blanche, two daughters, Martha Ann and Maureen; his son Jack, a grandson, John Laughlin, brothers Walter A. Roscoe and Harry B. Roscoe and his sister Mary L. Owens [sic].
"He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a 60 year member of the Elks Club." 

Blanche Shunick Roscoe

From The  Shenandoah, Iowa Evening Sentinel, Monday, July 6, 1934
MRS. ROSCOE BURNED IN EXPLOSION
WIFE OF LEE ROSCOE, FARMER, CRITICALLY INJURED WHEN GASOLINE MOTOR EXPLODES 

Home