Individual Details

Clair Cochran Kirkpatrick

(28 Mar 1895 - 11 Sep 1970)

Clair Cochran Kirkpatrick was the oldest of Les Kirkpatrick's children and was born 28 March 1895 at Rewey, Wisconsin, and died 11 September 1970 at Sun City, Maricopa County, Arizona. He married twice. The identity of his first wife and the place of marriage is unknown**. Also unknown is the place of dissoulution. Clair married second, Marvel Irene (Baum) Wilson. She was born in Creston, Iowa, 3 March 1898. The couple were married at Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa on 20 June 1931. Marvel was the daughter of Clyde Frank and Frances (Emerson) Baum. This was Marvel's second marriage, also. Marvel died at Sun City, Arizona, 28 November 1980. Both she and Clair are buried at Sunland Memorial Park, Sun City, Arizona.

Clair attended high school in Rewey, Wisconsin. From 1914 to 1915 he taught at Kellogg, Wabasha County, Minnesota. In the years 1915 to 1917 he was a student at LaCrosse Normal College, LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

He served with Company F, 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Division, AEF (Army Expedition Forces), during World War I, beginning in September 1917. He served in France in the Meuse-Argonne and other actions, and achieved the rank of sergeant. On 6 June 1919 he was discharged at Camp Dodge, Iowa. His military records were destroyed, along with the records of many others, in a General Services Administration fire in St. Louis in 1973.

After the war, Kirkpatrick returned to school. He was in the Class of 1920 at River Falls Normal College, River Falls, Wisconsin. The 1920 yearbook says his nickname was "Kirk" and that he was a member of the Lincolnian Society during his tenure at the school. (The society engaged in debate, public speaking, music, and "intellegent thinking".) After graduation he served as a teacher in Libby, Lincoln County, Montana (1920) and Shoshone, Lincoln County, Idaho (1922). In 1923 he registered at the University of Iowa, where he received a B.S. in 1923 and an M.S. in 1925. He was a member of the National Honorary Scholastic Fraternity, Sigma Xi.

In 1925 he joined the Iowa State Insurance Department in Des Moines and remained there for fifteen years. His last title was Actuary and Chief Examiner of Life Companies. In 1940 he joined the American Mutual Life Insurance Company, Des Moines, Iowa as Chief Actuary. He was elected treasurer and a member of the board in 1941 and served until his retirement in 1960. He was a member of the Society of Actuaries and the American Academy of Actuaries.

Clair Cochran Kirkpatrick's children were two sons of Marvel (Baum) Wilson, whom he adopted after their marriage. They are Melvin Kirkpatrick of Los Angeles and Marvin Kirkpatrick of Orlando, Florida.

On the U. S. Census of 1930 of Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa, Clair is head of household with his mother and brother Homer in the home. Clair is an actuary with an insurance company.

** Her name was Elsie Clare Hansen, they were married April 3, 1920 in Spokane, Washington. Divorce place and date unknown. She remarried in 1924.

Events

Birth28 Mar 1895Rewey, Iowa Co., Wisconsin
Marriage3 Apr 1920Spokane Co., Washington - Elsie Clare Hansen
Marriage20 Jun 1931Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa - Marvel Irene Slater Baum
Death11 Sep 1970Sun City, Maricopa Co., Arizona
Alt nameClair Kirkpatrick
BurialSunland Memorial Park, Sun City, Maricopa Co., Arizona

Families

SpouseElsie Clare Hansen (1900 - 1965)
SpouseMarvel Irene Slater Baum (1898 - 1980)
ChildMelvin Bernard Kirkpatrick (1918 - 1996)
ChildMarvin Baum Kirkpatrick (1918 - 2003)
FatherFrank Leslie Kirkpatrick (1868 - 1936)
MotherMinerva Blanche Burroughs (1872 - 1956)
SiblingElmer Frederick Kirkpatrick (1897 - 1945)
SiblingInfant Daughter Kirkpatrick (1902 - 1902)
SiblingRaymond Leslie Kirkpatrick (1905 - 1968)
SiblingHomer DeForest Kirkpatrick (1908 - 1973)

Endnotes