Albert Earl Moler

Albert Earl Moler, son of Park and Jane Moler, was born June 8, 1889 at
Grant City in Worth County, Missouri, and passed away at his home 10
miles north of Norcatur, on March 23, 1938, at the age of 48 years, 9
months, and 15 days.

Mr. Moler, the second of ten children, and the oldest of six boys, came
to Decatur County with his parents in 1891, when he was two years old.
His death is the first break among the brothers and sisters.

On December 6, 1911, at Nelson, Nebraska, he was married to Miss Ethel
Mae Zieger.  Four children were born to them, Vera, Iva, Wilma and
Lester.  Lester was only five when on February 1932 his life was cut
short.  Mr. Moler had planned on big things for this only son, and was
sorely hurt when his dreams were shattered.  He was heard to say that
some day he would see him again.  He was always exceptionally proud of
his three girls.  His entire married life,  with the exception of three
years in Morris County, Kansas, has been spent in the same locality.  He
was known as a desirable tenant, as was evidenced by the fact that he
lived on one farm for fifteen years.

In 1926 Mr. Moler affectionately known as "Ab" by his friends, joined
the Methodist church in Norcatur, and was a member there at the time of
his death.  He had decided convictions of right and wrong, formed his
opinions and could not be swerved from them.  He always did the right
thing as he saw it.

An unusually strong, upstanding man, the paralysis (stroke) which struck
him without warning two years ago the second of May, was entirely
unexpected.  He gradually recovered from this attack, although his
ambition was so much stronger than his body that he continually worked
beyond his strength.

On the 21st of December, 1937, he suffered a heart attack, and for many
days and nights someone was with him constantly.  And still, after a
night of pain, he could joke with the men who cared for him.  His wife
and daughters waited on him lovingly and patiently, and he tried to
spare them all he could.

He had been able to be up and around only a short time when he was taken
desperately ill again Friday night March 18, and grew steadily worse
until death relieved his suffering.

When more than 40 neighbors took tractors and listers two years ago this
spring and put in his corn, he asked his neighborhood reporter to give
an especially good write-up of the affair to the paper. "For" he said
"You can't say anything too good about neighbors who will do that for a
man."

His friends number far into the hundreds.  Ninety-six names were signed
in the list of those who contributed to buy a radio to help pass the
many long weeks of convalescence, and more could have easily been added.
Many times he said that he would never be able to repay the friends who
had been so kind to him.  He forgot, but his friends remember, that when
the church was to be shingled, he was there.  When there was a
woodcutting he was there.  When a sick neighbor needed help, he was
there also.  He enjoyed and took part in all neighborhood activities.
Taken in the very prime of his life he has left a vacancy not easily
filled.

Besides his wife and three daughters, are left nine brothers and
sisters, Mrs. S. W. Hessenflow of Norcatur; Mrs. L. C. Cathcart of Canon
City, Colorado; Joe Moler of Norcatur and Clyde Moler of Norton; Mrs.
Fred Ehler of Dresden; John Moler of Norcatur; George Moler of Arvada,
Colorado; Mrs. Lavoy Chambers, of Norcatur, and Lawrence Moler, of
Denver, Colorado, as well as several nieces and nephews and many
friends.

Funeral services were held from the Community M. E. Church, Norcatur,
March 25.  The sermon and service were in charge of Rev. R. R. Pfeiffer
of the Lutheran church, Norcatur.  A very large crowd was in attendance.
The pallbearers were Charles and Elmer Davis, George Cleland, Orville
Shirley, John Johnson and Ralph Wycoff.  Interment in the Norcatur
cemetary.


Submitted by Max Moler