Basche, Bart 1924-2004

BASCHE, DIEDERICH, KELSO

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 4/7/2005 at 17:18:00

Bart Basche, 78, formerly of Newton, died Thursday, June 10, in Las Vegas, Nev., following a brief illness.

A private family service was held on Monday. Memorial contributions may be made to Progress Industries in his name.

Mr. Basche was born Nov. 21, 1924, and was raised on a farm in Minnesota. During World War II, he served through seven major naval campaigns in the Pacific. After his discharge in 1946, he returned to Minnesota to work on the family farm, later moving to Waterloo where he was employed until being recalled to naval service in 1950. During the Korean Conflict he spent 18 months at a missile base in Las Cruces, N.M., and was discharged in 1952. On Feb. 25, 1952, he married Betty Diederich of Ionia.

From 1952 to 1965, he was employed by Rath Packing Company of Waterloo, beginning as a laborer and serving as a union steward. Later he assumed a position in quality control and was then appointed to a supervisory capacity in the packaging division. In 1965, he accepted a position as plant manager with the Waterloo Ideas Company, an advertising specialty firm.

The Basches moved to Newton in 1968. He was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a member of Progress Industries Heritage Club. He and Bob Graham founded Honeycorr Inc. in Newton in 1968. In 1970, Mr. Basche became sole owner and president of the business. In 1975, Honeycorr merged with Holland Plastics in Gilman and he served as president.

He is one of six founders of Plastics Group of Iowa and was member of the Iowa Manufacturers' Association. He served as a delegate to the Society of Plastics Industries and as vice president of the group's block molders division. In March 1978, Mr. Basche announced his candidacy for state senator on the Republican ticket in the primary election.

He formed Basche and Associates, a consulting firm for small businesses that also marketed a line of packaging materials and machinery. He also was associated with the Monticello Group, an EPS bead-buying consortium based in Newton. When he retired in 1983, he and his wife moved to Oskaloosa and later to Las Vegas, Nev.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Debbie Kelso of Ottumwa; two grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Richard. ~ Newton Daily News, Newton, IA, Tuesday, June 15, 2004