JOHN S. EGAN

VALIANT FIGHT FAILS WIDELY KNOWN CITIZEN
Illness of Several Weeks' Duration Proves Fatal to National Leader of The T.P.A.
A valiant fight for recovery from an illness with which he was stricken last
June, while en route to New Orleans, was brought to a close at the hospital here
at 3 o'clock this morning when John S. Egan, 66, widely-known local traveling
salesman and president of the Wisconsin branch of the Travelers' Protective
Association, passed away.
Death occurred ten days after Mr. Egan was brought back to Manitowoc in a special
train after having undergone treatment for several weeks at the Mayo Brothers
hospital in Rochester. The immediate cause of death was heart and kidney trouble
from which he suffered severely during the past several weeks after having
apparently recovered from the attack he underwent in Memphis nearly a year ago.
National T.P.A. Leader
Mr. Egan was one of the best-known traveling salesmen in Wisconsin and followed
that calling for nearly 45 years, the last 28 of which were spent as sales
representative for the . A.M. Richter company. His interests in the calling made
him an active leader in the Travelers' Protective Association and only last May 11
was unanimously named to head the Wisconsin branch of the association. He was
nationally known in the organization and for some time served as chairman of the
committee on transportation as well as being a director for the national association.
In addition to being active in T.P.A. circles, Mr. Egan was a member of the United
Commercial Travelers, was a charter member of the Manitowoc Lodge of Elks and was
affiliated with the Knights of Columbus. Shortly after the Manitowoc Lodge of Elks
was organized, Mr. Egan was elected esquire and held that office for the longest
continuous period of time any office has ever served the local lodge in like capacity.
Apparently Recovered
The death of Mr. Egan, while not entirely unexpected in view of his recent serious
illness, will come as a shock to a wide circle of friends throughout the northwest.
After being severely stricken last summer, he apparently was fully recovered and for
a period of several months resumed his position on the road and made his regular calls
to the trade.
Life-Long Resident
Mr. Egan made Manitowoc his residence practically all of his life, the family taking
up their home here in 1893 after he lived for several years at Sturgeon Bay and
Milwaukee. He was born in Manitowoc on November 24, 1864, and remained in this city
until 15 years of age when he moved to Sturgeon Bay. For a time he was a timber buyer
in northern Wisconsin but later became a traveling salesman and remained in that
profession until he became ill.
In June, 1884, he was married at Algoma to Miss Rose Swaty of that city and she with
two sons, Aubrey and Kenwood S.; two brothers, Frank and James; a sister, Mrs. Henry
Greenwood, and four grandchildren, all of Manitowoc, survive.
Funeral on Friday.
Funeral services for Mr. Egan will be held from the Sacred Heart church at 9 o'clock
on Friday morning with Rev. Grace officiating. Interment will take place at Evergreen
cemetery.
The services are expected to be attended by dignitaries of the organizations with which
Mr. Egan was affiliated during the many years of his travels as a sales representative.
Was Popular About City
With the death of Mr. Egan, many Manitowoc citizens will mourn the passing of one of
the most popular residents. Discussing the death of Mr. Egan today a close acquaintance
said:
"John Egan was one of those citizens who made the world a better place in which to live.
He lived a real happy, care-free life in spite of many responsibilities and was always
ready with a quip or a story. We'll all miss him."
To Pay Tribute
Member of the Manitowoc Council 710, Knights of Columbus, are to meet tomorrow night at
the home of Mr. Egan at 7:30 o'clock for the saying of prayers. Mr. Egan was a member
of the local council.
Manitowoc Herald News, May 6, 1931 P. 2
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[bur. 5-8-1931/age 66 yrs/cause: coronary thrombosis and arterio sclerosis]