Obituary - Mount Pulaski Times-News, 1 November 1951 Oscar W. Mayer Died Saturday Following Stroke Services Were Held Monday Afternoon at Funeral Home Oscar William Mayer, East Morgan Street, Mount Pulaski, one of the city's best known residents, and former chief of the volunteer fire department, died in the Deaconess Hospital in Lincoln, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 27, 1951 at 7:20 a.m., aged 80 years and 22 days. Although seriously ill about a year ago, Mr. Mayer seemed to have recovered good health again. He attended the district meeting of Odd Fellows in the local IOOF Hall on Tuesday night, and was up in the business section as usual Wednesday afternoon chatting with friends. His son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Holz, who lived with him, were away for the evening and, when they returned home about 10 o'clock, they found Mr. Mayer laying on the basement floor. He had suffered a stroke and fell down the cellar steps. He was immediately removed to the Deaconess Hospital in the Schahl ambulance for treatment. His condition was critical from the first and death followed in less than 60 hours from the time he was found. Word of his sudden death came as a shock to everyone. Decedent was born Oct. 5, 1871, in Mount Pulaski, Ill., a son of John W. and Mary Mattefeldt Mayer. He attended the Mount Pulaski schools and in his young manhood was associated with his father in the harness and buggy business on the south side of the square. With the coming of the automobile and truck, they retired from that business and constructed the garage building at the southeast corner of the public square, and for a time dealt in Ford cars. The building is now occupied by the Dick Shull garage. Mr. Mayer was also interested in the dry goods and grocery business for a few years with his cousin, Edward O. Mayer. He retired from active work a number of years ago, but looked after his land interests. In 1909 Mr. Mayer became a member of the Mount Pulaski volunteer fire department, and for 125 years served as chief, retiring from that post in 1948, when Frederick A. Lipp was elected to the post. Although he was the oldest member of the department, he was always active and made many runs on the trucks. Always interested in the department, which he had served so efficiently through the years, he worked with the other members in raising funds and the purchase of the two trucks now in use. For many years he attended the annual meetings of the Illinois State Firemen's Association, and the first week in October, accompanied Mr. Lipp to Chicago to attend the meeting. Mr. Mayer became a member of Mount Pulaski Lodge No. 545, IOOF, in 1908. For more than 40 years he took an active part in lodge work, holding the various offices, including Past Noble Grand, and was secretary-treasurer at the time of his death. He was also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Christian Church. In Mount Pulaski on Sept. 25, 1896, he married Miss Edna Jane Buckles, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Elias Buckles, and they went to housekeeping in the east part of the city. His wife preceded him in death on March 5, 1937. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Harry Damarin and Mrs. Herbert Holz, Mount Pulaski; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and one brother, Clarence A. Mayer, Los Angeles, Calif. The remains were removed to the Schahl Funeral Home, where funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, conducted by Rev. Ray O. Zumstein. Three appropriate piano numbers were played by Mrs. Frank E. Turley. Members of the fire department and Odd Fellows attended the services in a body. Burial was in the Mount Pulaski cemetery. Graveside services were conducted by the Odd Fellows. Pallbearers, all firemen, were: Frederick Lipp, Chief; Charles F. Wagner, Harry van Hook, Kelsey Anderson, Charles Schultz, and Fred Mayer Jr. As a mark of respect, and in memory of a good friend and efficient fire fighter, both the city fire trucks were driven in the funeral cortege.