OBITUARY: Ward Champion, Mitchell County, Iowa [ St. Ansgar Enterprise, 28 FEB 1980] Ward Champion [1908-1980] Funeral services for Ward Champion, 71, of St. Ansgar, who died at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center February 17, were held February 21 at the St. Ansgar United Methodist church with the Rev. Bruce Wittern officiating. Ward Champion was born August 13, 1908 in Osage, the son of Ben and Katherine (Coonradt) Champion. He was baptized at the Methodist church in Osage, and attended high school in Osage where he was a member of the football team for four years. He later became a member of the Masonic Lodge in Osage. Mr. Champion was married to Helen Shaw August 5, 1930, and two sons were born to them. The Champions moved to St. Ansgar in 1944 where he was proprietor of the St. Ansgar (John Deere) Implement business. Prior to that he had been employed by the John Deere Co. since 1934. He retired in 1971. Mr. Champion was very active in community affairs, serving on the City Council for several years, and he was a former Mayor of St. Ansgar. He also served on the St. Ansgar Volunteer fire department for ten years. He is survived by his wife, Helen; two sons, Russell of Plainview, Minn. and Delmer of Monmouth, Ill.; two brothers, Bill Champion of Burt and Edward Champion of Marshall, Mo.; also seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Kathryn. Masonic rites were held at the Osage cemetery, and burial was in the Osage cemetery with Rev. Wittern in charge of the committal services. Copyright (c) 2001 by Kermit Kittleson; (Note: I am not necessarily related to the subject of the obituary.) This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. **************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ****************************************************************************