Date : 01 May 2004
Location : Mt. Calvary Cemetery, West Union, IA
A Funeral Mass for Melvin J. Baumler, 79, of West Union was held Saturday, May 1, at Holy Catholic Church in West Union. Rev. Dale Rausch was the Mass celebrant.
Interment was m Mt. Calvary Cemetery, rural West Union. Casket bearers were Steve Baumler, Gary Baumler, Alan Baum]er, Keith Baumler, Dann Wurzer, Jeff Guenther, Wayne Throndson, and Duane Baumler.
Burnham-Wood Funeral Home, West Union, was in charge of arrangements.
Melvin's death occurred Wednesday, April 28, 2004, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn., following a short illness.
Melvin John Baumler, son of Carl and Mathilda (Scholbrock) Baumler, was bom Dec. 24, 1924, near St. Lucas. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke's Catholic Church and attended St. Luke's School through the eighth grade.
On June 19, 1950, Melvin was united in marriage with Rita Lansing at St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church in Ossian. Seven children were born to this union.
The couple lived in West Union, moving to their current residence on the southeast edge of West Union the fall of 1955.
Melvin operated a sawmill and worked as a carpenter until a fall ended his carpentry career in 1961. He then started Baumler Implement on Franklin Street in West Union, moving it in 1976 to the current location south of West Union on Hwy. 150.
Melvin was an active member of Holy Name Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. A 4th Degree Knight, he served as Grand Knight from 1972-1974.
He served on numerous boards. Melvin and Rita had been honored as grand marshals of the West Union Dairy Day parade.
Preceding Melvin in death were his parents and three brothers, Donald, Neil, and Cyril.
Survivors include his wife, Rita, of West Union; his children, Jean Ann Baumler of Kauai, Hawaii, Arlene (Steve) Smith of LaCrosse, Wis., Ruth McKinnon of Clyde, Calif., Don (Donna) and Mark (Karleen), both of West Union, Diane (Mikael) Hakansson of Palo Alto, Calif., and Kevin (Angie) of West Union; and 12 grandchildren.
Additional survivors include three brothers, Reynold (Helen) of West Union, Gerald (Lois) of Waucoma, and Irenus of Waukon; three sisters, Lou Ann (Harlan) Throndson of Lawler, Colleen (Gerald) Guenther and Norma (Ed) Wurzer, both of West Union; and numerous other relatives.
The Union [West Union] - May 5, 2004
