Representative Harvey Floyd Risse View All Years

HARVEY F. RISSE

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Harvey F. Risse, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

Mr. Risse was born at Hubbard, Iowa, on September 21, 1887. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Risse. He passed away at a rest home in Mason City on March 15, 1955, after a long period of ill health.

Mr. Risse spent his boyhood in Hubbard, and was graduated from the Hubbard High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ellsworth College in Iowa Falls in 1913. He obtained his Master’s degree from Drake University. Mr. Risse also studied at the State University of Iowa, Iowa State College and Northwesern University.

Mr. Risse was also a graduate of the Chaplain’s Training School at Camp Taylor, Kentucky. He entered the United States Army as a first lieutenant and attained the rank of captain upon his discharge. At the time of his death he was a lieutenant colonel in the Chaplain’s Reserve Corps of the United States Army.

Mr. Risse served as pastor in several northern Iowa churches. He served the Community Church in Point Pleasant, the Evangelical Church in Buckeye, the Community Church in Mitchell and the Church of Christ in Charles City, Fertile and Nora Springs.

In 1925, Mr. Risse married the former Bernice Ruth Jones of Plymouth.

It was also in this year that he began his career in the Iowa public schools. He served as superintendent of schools in Marble Rock, and later in St. Ansgar from 1929 to 1937. Before his retirement in June, 1953, Mr. Risse also served as superintendent in Mitchell and Orchard.

Mr. Risse was also active in life insurance fields. He was an honor representative of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States.

Mr. Risse was the State Representative from Mitchell County in the Forty-eighth and Forty-ninth General Assemblies. He was a member of the Advisory Committee of the Fourth Congressional district.

Mr. Risse was the president of the Tri-Mitchell Farm Institute, chaplain of the Convalescent Center at Camp Dodge, National President of the American Conference Undenominaional Churches of America, vice president of the Farmers Elevaor at Hubbard, president of the Brotherhood Zion’s Evangelical Church and president of the St. Ansgar Lion’s Club.

He was a member of the American Legion and served as Legion District Chaplain in 1936. He did a great deal of public speaking throughout Iowa. At one time he was the state chaplain for the Army.

Survivors include his wife, Bernice; two brothers, a twin, Howard of Iowa Falls, and Charles of Hubbard; four sisters, Mrs. Hattie Boeke and Mrs. Emma Thornton, both of Hubbard, Mrs. Kenneth Luhman of Radcliffe and Mrs. Donald McCoy of Iowa Falls.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Fifty-sixth General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable Harvey F. Risse, the state has lost an honored citizen and a faithful, useful public servant, and the House, by this resolution, would express its appreciation of his service, and tender its sympathy to his wife and the members of his family.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

CHARLES R. BURTCH,

GUS T. KUESTER,

W. H. TATE,

Committee.