Rassler, Ernest (1916-2005)

RASSLER, RYALS, MADSEN, BASKERVILLE, HIMES, PORATH, FARRELL, VIE, GROSS

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 1/23/2014 at 13:35:05

Ernest Rassler
June 7, 1916 - March 18, 2005

Ernest Rassler, age 88, of Fonda, died on Friday, March 18, 2005, at the Newell Good Samaritan Center in Newell.

The sixth child in a family of nine brothers and sisters, Ernest (Ernie) Arno Rassler was born on June 7, 1916, at Palmer to Elizabeth A. and Arno G. Rassler. Before the family moved to a farm near Varina in March of 1924, he attended country school at rural Palmer.

In 1941, Ernie entered the Army Air Corps and served as an airplane mechanic during World War II. On November 1, 1943, he married Clara M. Ryals at Bartow, Florida. Following his discharge after the war, Ernie and Clara moved to a farm near Varina. He farmed until 1965 when he with his family moved to Fonda. There, he was employed by Cargill elevator until he retired. Ernie and Clara had four adopted children: Donna, Brenda, Earl and Vanessa Rassler.

A life-long Chicago Cubs fan, Ernie enjoyed watching the Cubs play on TV. He was always wearing a Cubs cap and flying his Cubs Pennant by his front door. An avid card player, he enjoyed family gatherings and spending time with his grandsons and great grandsons. In addition, he enjoyed watching the Newell-Fonda basketball teams and seldom missed a home game until his health would no longer permit him to go. A life-long member of the Methodist Church of Varina, he also belonged to the W. D. Steiner Post of the American Legion of Varina.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Clara; his sisters: Amelia (Amy) Madsen, Anna (Ann) Baskerville, and Dorothy Himes; his brothers: Albert, Frank, and Louis; his son, Earl; and his daughter, Vanessa.

Survivors include his sisters: Norine Porath, of Windom, Minnesota, and Lula Farrell, of Varina; his daughter, Donna, and her husband, Troy Vie, and their son, Zach, of Fremont, Nebraska; his grandson, Shane Gross; and his great grandsons, Lucas and Trenton, of Davenport, as well as many nieces, nephews, and good friends, especially his good neighbor, Andy Tolan, and his family.

A kind and gentle spirit, Ernie will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Funeral Services for Ernest Rassler were on Monday, March 21, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. at the Varina Methodist Church with Pastors Esta Fraley and Greg Baskerville officiating. Burial was in the Varina Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by the W. D. Steiner American Legion Post 588 of Varina. The arrangements were under the direction of the Mahaney Funeral Home in Fonda.

© Copyright 2005, Storm Lake Pilot Tribune

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