Oscar Calkins
May 15, 2013
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Service Details
Oscar Calkins, 89, passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at Trinity Center in Des Moines.
Oscar was born December 2, 1923, in Nevada, Iowa, to George and Lena Calkins. As a young boy, he and his father moved to Austin, Minnesota. Oscar was active in baseball while attending high school in Minnesota. He moved to Des Moines in 1939, where he met and married Geneva Sartin in September of 1947. His first job in Des Moines was driving a coal truck. He worked for Rock Island Motor Freight for 26 years and retired from Polk County in 1982, where he had been chief bailiff for Judge Perkins for seven years. He also owned and operated Calkins Antique Business.
Oscar was inducted into the Des Moines Fast Pitch Softball Hall of Fame in 1980. Oscar’s baseball and softball career in Des Moines started in 1946 and he retired in 1975. During that time he played baseball for the Kakos All Stars and softball for Ipalco, Burlington Motor Freight, Rock Island Motor Freight, and Easton Place United Methodist Church. He volunteered with the Des Moines Police Auxiliary where he was an air raid warden, helped patrol the fairground during events, directed traffic on the loop in downtown Des Moines, and helped out in other areas when needed. Oscar was a member of Easton Place United Methodist Church, Des Moines Coin Club, Mississippi Valley Gun & Cartridge Collector’s Association, National Rifle Association, Iowa Sheriff’s Association, and served as Sergeant at Arms for the Iowa Law Enforcement Association for over five years.
Oscar is survived by his daughters, Judy McDowell and Sandra Bemis; son, Lester (Marilyn) Miller; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Geneva Calkins, and granddaughter, Laura Zumbrunnen.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, May 20, 2013, at Easton Place United Methodist Church, 2412 Easton Blvd., followed by burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Easton Place United Methodist Church.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Lyell Holmes
05/21/2013
Oscar and I were close friends and shared a passion for collecting pocket watches. He was one of the finest gentlemen that I have ever known, and had deep and everlasting love for his wonderful Family, Lord Jesus, and his Country. I will always cherish the time we spent together and flying around Iowa. God Bless the Calkins family and give them comfort and strength during this very sad time.
Diana Savage
05/20/2013
All of us at the North Senior Center were so sad to hear of your Dad's passing. Our prayers are with you at this time. My husband Steve had your dad for a baseball coach when he was young and mentioned how fair he always was to all the kid's. Treasure your memories.
Michael S. McMurry
05/18/2013
Oscar was a great friend, a fantastic guy and a tremendous asset to his community to which he contributed for many years in worthwhile and very honorable ways. We were pals for 35 years and the pleasure was all mine. Rest in peace, partner. Mike McMurry
Larry Young
05/18/2013
So sorry for your and our loss. Thanks for the great memories watching softball games, conversations at Grandview Pharmacy, listening to Mr Calkins sing (great voice), whistling and the occasional wave on John Patterson Rd whether he knew who I was or not.
Phil 1:3
Ramona Kintz
05/17/2013
I remember the trips in the car singing hymns and how you had your hand outside the window and every once in a while you would hit the roof of the car and scare us kids. You had a full life and now you are with Aunt Jenny and Jesus. You will be missed.