The funeral service of Theo C. Baessler, who passed away suddenly at his farm north of Coldwater Wednesday morning of last week, the result of a heart attack, were held in the Coldwater Methodist church last Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock and were in charge of Rev. Herschel Thornburg, pastor of the Prairie Vale Friends church, and Rev. Donald A. Kessler, pastor of the Methodist church.The singers were Marvin Plank, Patricia Dunn and Mr. and Mrs. Gurney T. Hadley and the songs were the "Lord's Prayer," "Shepherd, Show Me How to Go" and "In the Garden," with George Wolf, organist.
Burial was in Crown Hill cemetery and the graveside services were in charge of the Coldwater Masonic Lodge.
The active pallbearers were Otto Sherman, Vertis Swarner, Cecil Wilson, Ralph Griffith, Raymond Lohrding and Don Robinson. The honorary pallbearers were Roy Deewall, Charles Burt, Frank Smith, Hobart McMillen, Harvey Marley and Lovedren Hall.
Obituary. Theodore Carl Baessler, son of John and Sophie Baessler, was born in Tebingun, Germany, March 17,1874, and passed away at his home five miles north of Coldwater, Kansas, January 3, 1951, at the age of 76 years, 9 months and 17 days.
He spent his boyhood days in Germany until the age of 14 at which time he came to the United States, settling at Delavan, Ill., where he finished his school and worked until he saved enough money to bring his mother, two brothers and a sister to this country. At the time he became of age he applied for his naturalization papers and became a citizen of the United States.
On June 10, 1897, he was united in marriage with Louise Wilhelmina Karrer at Delavan, Ill., who preceded him in death in 1932. To this union there were born three sons and one daughter, all of whom survive him -- Moritz K. Baessler of Bend, Oregon, Gottlieb John Baessler of Laverne, Oklahoma, Theodore F. Baessler of Portland, Oregon, and Wilhelmina Louise Marley of Coldwater, Kansas.
From the time of his arrival in this country until 1910, Mr. Baessler lived in Illinois, where he was engaged in the general contracting business. In 1910, he moved his family to Coldwater, Kansas, where he was engaged in farming while still following his work at carpentering.
In 1919, he and his family moved to Orange, California, where they lived until 1928, when he and his wife returned to their farm, where he lived until his death. In 1945, he retired, but continued to make his home on his farm, usually spending the winter in Oregon and California.
At an early age he was confirmed in the Lutheran church and in later years he became a member of the Mother church, the first Church of Christian Science of Boston, Mass., He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, being a Thirty-second Degree Mason, also a member of the Midian Temple and of the Eastern Star.
Mr. Baessler is survived by his three sons and one daughter, one brother, Carl Baessler of Denver, Colo., 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild, a number of nieces and nephews and a host of friends. One brother, Moritz G. Baessler, and one sister, Mrs. Lena Neumann, preceded him in death.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
This RootsWeb website is being created by HTML Guy Jerry Ferrin with the able assistance of many Contributors. Your comments, suggestions and contributions of historical information and photographs to this site are welcome. Please sign the Guest Book. This page was last updated 25 June 2004.