Emil-A_-Florang-79812

Obituary

Emil A. Florang, 81, founder and president of the Burlington Basket Co., and prominent resident of Burlington, died Saturday midnight at University hospital, Iowa City. Death was due to a heart attack which followed and eye operation the middle of last week. Mr. Florang entered the hospital last Wednesday and underwent an operation on Thursday for the removal of a cataract from his right eye. Late Thursday he suffered a heart attack, from which he rallied, but death followed a second attack on Friday. Mr. Florang was one of Burlington's best-known citizens, both from a civic and business standpoint. In the many years that this city has been his home, he attained a high place in the business world through his own efforts, and gave liberally of his time, energy and money in the furtherance of community betterment with reference to service club endeavor, literary activities, park improvements and as one of the founders and chief backers of the city beautiful committee of which he was chairman for many years. Although he had a number of setbacks in his business career, particularly three fires which destroyed his factories, he utilized his energies and abilities in ever building a new and more permanently. At the present time the Burlington Basket company is the greatest of its kind in the world, and its products through the years have been shipped to all the nations of the world. His chief interest were in his family, his home, his work and his community. Widely read and widely traveled, he was in close touch with national and international conditions and, on various occasions, as talked interestingly of places he as visited and people he has seen. Mr. Florang was born in Basel, Switzerland, Feb. 4, 1859, the son of natives of Alsace when that territory was controlled by France. His father served in the French cavalry as a youth, and the family moved to Basel in 1858.E.A. Florang being born the following year. In the summer of 1870, when Emil Florang was but 11, he left for this country with his parents, two brothers and three sisters. One sister remained in Basel. The family arrived in Burlington in October of 1870, and first settled in two rooms at Eighth and Jefferson streets. Later they moved to a small farm near Flint creek, north of Burlington, which was not profitable, and they returned to Burlington, moving into a one story frame home on Sunnyside avenue where the Golf club now stands. His mother died while they lived there. Emil Florang was 12. His father secured work with Isaac Dewein, and the family next moved to S. Main street, south of the Ebner home, At 14 Emil worked in a bakery operated by George Hoerr on Washington street. A jaunt to Texas followed, the family moving to a small farm 50 miles from Dallas. This venture failed to be profitable, and they came back as far as St. Louis. Emil Florang, at work in a Dallas Hotel; followed the others by several weeks, working his way by railroad and at times riding the "blind baggage." In St. Louis he worked as a waiter, later in a butcher shop and in the harvest fields. When 16, he and other members of the family returned to Burlington, and Emil went to work tending bar. When 21, and having saved $75 and with a $40 a month job, he married Miss Clara Anna Wagner of Burlington. She preceded him in death on June 15, 1935. AS he became more successful, Mr. Florang went into the basket business. The first location was on Front street, and some years later he was burned out. He built along the bottom road, and twice fire swept his factory while in that location. The latest series of buildings were erected further north, the most modern plant of its kind in the country. Florang, married Miss Helene Kitterer of Niles, Mich., in 1936, and she survives. Also surviving are two sons, Oscar and Clarence Florang of this city; two daughters, Mrs. Adele Mercer and Mrs. Hazel Fausel of Burlington; nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. There also is a brother, Fred, in Nebraska. Although not as active during the last two or three years as in the past, Mr. Florang's activities through the years. Included: President Burlington Woodenware Co., President Burlington Basket Co., President Burlington Willow Ware shops. president Package Sales Corp., president National Fruit Package Mfgrs. Assn., President Burlington Land and Timber Co., President Iowa Hardwood Basket Co., director Chamber of Commerce, director Chamber of Commerce, director Rotary club, director Burlington Home Building Co., chairman City Beautiful committee, chairman state park committee, member Literary club, member Elks club. Funeral services will be held at the home, 1847 Sunnyside Avenue, Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock, and will be private. The Rev. Bruce Masselink, pastor of the First Congregational church, will officiate and burial will be in Aspen Grove cemetery. The body is at Prugh's chapel and employes of the Basket company and friends may call at the chapel this afternoon or this evening, or at the home between 10 a.m. and noon tomorrow. The body will be taken to the Florang home early tomorrow.