Lute H. Ranft
March 30, 1881-March 7, 1955
Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 8, 1955, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
Lute H. Ranft, 73, 517 First Court, former Niles alderman from the fourth ward, died Monday noon in the Tampa, Fla., Municipal Hospital.
Ranft, who for many years owned his own circus, was born March 30, 1881, in Niles and lived his entire life here. He was spending the winter in Florida at the time of his death.
Starting as a musician in 1900, Ranft was associated with circus life for almost 30 years. In about 1907 he bought his own circus, one of the old time dog and pony shows and travelled the country every year until 1927.
Ranft always took his family with him on the yearly caravans, and at times had up to 100 employes working with him on the show. The troop averaged 15 horse-drawn wagons and was known as the L.H. Ranft Society Circus. Every year the routes would be changed and during all the years he was operating the circus played every one of the 48 states during the various seasons.
Surviving are: his wife, Wallesina, two daughters, Mrs. James Lewellen and Mrs. William Woods, both of Niles; and a son, Herman Ranft, of Niles; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild, and a brother, Art Ranft, of New Port Richey, Fla.
The body will be returned to the Pifer Funeral Home and arrangements are to be announced later.
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 10, 1955, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
SET RANFT RITES
Services for Lute H. Ranft of 517 First Court, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pifer Funeral Home by the Rev. Ray McCoy, pastor of the First Baptist Church. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.