Obituary

  Dr. J. J. Meehan, prominent physician and surgeon, and a resident of Denison for more than a quarter of a century, died suddenly from a heart attack about 7:30 Friday evening while making a call on a patient residing some ten miles northwest of the city. Dr Meehan had received a call to minister to a patient at the J. P. Jepsen home and engaged Vincent Meade to drive him in his car. They drove for eight miles northwest on the gravel road to Schleswig, where they were met by Mr. Jepsen with a team and wagon as the road from there could not by traveled by auto on account of the mud.
  Dr. Meehan ministered to the sick one and Mr. Jepsen drove him back to the waiting car. In alighting from the wagon Dr. Meehan dropped his stethoscope and in reaching to pick it up from the ground suffered a heart attack. He was able to get into the automobile and after getting seated Meade noticed him reach to his vest pocket to remove a case containing heart stimulants which dropped from his hand into his lap. Vincent asked him if he could assist him with the medicine and Dr. Meehan replied; "No, it is too late," and slumped over in the seat dead. News of his death was a great shock to the people of Denison as he had been seen on the streets Friday, apparently in the best of health and spirits. For years he had suffered with asthma which no doubt brought on heart trouble.
  Dr. Meehan was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, Dec. 25, 1874. His parents, John and Catherine (Garvey) Meehan, were born in Ireland and came to America when young people. After their marriage they lived in Rock Island county until 1882, when they moved to Iowa and settled on a farm south of Vail. In 1883 they moved to a farm near Denison, and on this farm they lived until retiring and moving to Denison, where they spent the remaining years of their lives. The father passed away at the age of 79, in 1912, and the mother at 76, in 1915. Both were devout Catholics, and the political tendency of the family has always been democratic.
  Doctor Meehan grew up on the home farm, attended the district school nearby, and in continuing his education went through the Denison Normal and Business college, the University of Iowa, and from there entered Northwester university school of medicine in Chicago, where he took his M.D. degree in 1903. He first practiced at Missouri Valley, and in 1905 located in Denison.
  In order to provide better facilities for his extensive practice and also for the benefit of the community at large, Dr. Meehan in 1916 established the Meehan hospital at 315 East Walnut street. His twin sister, Miss Elizabeth Meehan, a graduate nurse of the Mercy hospital in Chicago, assisted him in conducting the hospital up until the time of her death, Jan. 19, 1921.
  He was one of a family of ten children, three of whom survive, namely; Mrs. J. N. Houlihan and Mrs. Ed Champion, of Denison, and Mrs. N. W. Conway, of Aledo, Ill.
  During the long residence of Dr. Meehan in Denison the people of this community came to know him not only as a capable physician and surgeon, but a business man and a citizen whose generosity and sympathy were easily aroused and whose acts of kindness and public spirit were generally appreciated, though definitely known only to their recipients.
  As well as being the city health physician he had been local physician and surgeon for the Chicago and Northwestern since 1916, and for the Illinois Central since 1912. He was a member of the Crawford county, Iowa state and American Medical associations and the Association of Railway surgeons. Over a period of years he was most active in the Crawford County Medical society, being a past president and served as secretary for a number of years.
Dr. Meehan had never married. He was a devout member of the Catholic church, a grand knight of the Knights of Columbus and also a fourth degree member of that order. He made rather extensive investments in farm land and was a director of the Crawford County Trust and Savings bank since that institution was organized.
  In the death of Dr. Meehan, Denison has lost one of its most substantial citizens. While never of robust health, he was most active throughout his career and devoted to his extensive practice. The weather was never so bad but what he would drive many miles out into the country to minister to a patient. Possessed of a kindly disposition and a sympathetic nature, he did much to render aid and assistance to the less fortunate. He had great faith in Denison and its future and was a staunch supporter of every movement for the betterment of the city and community. At the time of the closing of the Crawford County State Bank he was among those who helped to organize the new bank, knowing that it would be a great help to the community. Dr. Meehan was a man possessed of many sterling qualities and he had a legion of friends in this community who sincerely mourn his passing. He had many warm friends in the Knights of Columbus order as was evidenced by the fact that ten fourth degree knights of Council Bluffs came to Denison Sunday evening to pay their respects to his memory.
  Requiem high mass was celebrated Monday forenoon at 9:30 at the St. Rose of Lima church with Father Casey of Denison, Father McGuire of Ute, Father Anthofer of Charter Oak and Father Clark of Manilla officiating. The church was filled to capacity with the neighbors and friends who gathered to pay their respects to the memory of this worthy citizen. The many beautiful floral tributes bespoke the high esteem in which he was held. Interment was made in the family plot in the Catholic cemetery here. Pallbearers, all nephews of Dr. Meehan, were Francis Meehan, Vincent Houilhan, Robert Conway, Emmett Champion, John Meehan and Louis Houilhan.
  Relatives from a distance in attendance at the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. N. W. Conway and son Robert, Virginia Conway and Mrs. Joe Meehan, of Aledo, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hart, Cornelius O'Brien, J. M. Malloy, Mrs. Beam and daughter Dorothy, Mrs. McCann and Thomas Beam, of Davenport; Mike Talty, of Atlantic; Mr. and Mrs. Warren Rule, Mrs. Nellie Frazier and son Carl, of Omaha; Mrs. Belford and Mrs. T. Beam, of Council Bluffs; William and Joe Carvey, of Des Moines; T. V. Houlihan, of Harvard, Ill.; Dr. and Mrs. T. J. Houlihan of Ida Grove, and Thos. Maloney and Mike O'Brien, of Dunlap.
(The Denison Review, Wednesday, March 2, 1932, p. 1)