Roswell (Bob) Garst

GARST, KRMPS, LEE, CHRYSTAL

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/14/2023 at 09:22:03

The Bayard News November 10, 1977
The raspy voice of Orange Township's most noted citizen has been stilled.
Roswell (Bob) Garst died Saturday morning in St Anthony Hospital in Carroll following a heart attack suffered 10 days earlier in his rural Coon Rapids home.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2 pm from the Coon Rapids High School Auditorium. The organist was Eileen Smith and there were four eulogists.
Speaking were William L. Brown of Des Moines; Maurice A Campbell of Coon Rapids, longtime Garst and Thomas associate; A Arthur Davis of Des Moines, and Hans V Larson of Central City, Nebraska.
The casket was carried by Samuel David Garst, James Morton Garst, Edward Garst, Timothy Owen Lee, Curtis Chrystal, John Charles Chrystal and Thomas Mark Kamps. Interment was made in the Coon Rapids Cemetery.
Mr. Garst came to Guthrie County two weeks after he was born in Rockford, Illinois, June 13, 1898, and with the exception of four years spent in Des Moines, he lived his entire life on the Garst Orange Township farm.
Called an innovator, Mr. Garst was one of agriculture's strongest supporter's and promoters. About 1930, he joined with Charles Thomas to establish the Garst and Thomas partnership which flourishes today. They produced and developed hybrid corn and sorghum and presently their seed plant is the largest in the world.
Mr. Garst called presidents and dictators friend and he conducted business all over the world. He was not afraid of change and, in fact, he probably was as much responsible for the agricultural revolution as any person who ever lived.
On January 31,1921 Roswell Garst and Elizabeth Frances Henak of Cedar Falls were married. They had five children all of whom survive along wit the widow. The children are Jane Kemps of Linden, Calif; Stephen and David of Coon Rapids; Antonia Lee of London, England and Mary Garst of Berkeley, Calif. Also surviving are 15 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Several years ago Mr. Garst lost his larynx to cancer and since then he has spoken through a mechanical, handheld device which gave him a distinctive "voice".