Zuehl, Dr. B. F. 1883-1973
ZUEHL, DOERING, HAHN
Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 2/11/2009 at 15:27:23
DR. ZUEHL, BELOVED AS MR. WESTMAR COLLEGE, DEAD AT 90
Dr. B. F. Zuehl, 90, former dean and professor emeritus at Westmar College, died early Friday morning (March 23, 1973) at Floyd Valley Hospital in LeMars.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 26, at Calvary United Methodist church. Officiating will be Rev. Tom Balm, pastor of Calvary church. Burial will be in LeMars Memorial Cemetery under the direction of the Mauer funeral home.
Educator, musician, inventor, sportsman – Dr. Zuehl’s association with Westmar College extended for nearly 70 years.
Benjamin Franklin Zuehl was born on a farm near Britt, Iowa, in Boone township of Hancock County, Jan. 12, 1883. He was the sixth child of a pioneer German immigrant family that came to this country in 1880. His father was Carl Zuehl and his mother was Fredericka Doering Zuehl.
After Dr. Zuehl was graduated from high school in Mason City, he enrolled in Westmar, then Western Union, intending to become an industrial arts teacher. Instead he became a Christian minister.
As a student, Dr. Zuehl played football, basketball and baseball and was active in band, orchestra and quartet. He was a charter member of the science seminar, editor of the Western Union Journal, an artist for the annual and president of WMCA.
He married Carrie M. Hahn, of Hinton, in 1909. The two met as Western Union college students. Mrs. Zuehl preceded him in death June 5, 1970.
Dr. Zuehl received his bachelor of divinity degree in 1906 and his bachelor of arts degree in 1907. He had been licensed as a minister and served student pastorates in 1905-06. From 1908 to 1912 he served full-time pastorates in the Evangelical church in Iowa and Minnesota.
In 1911 he received a master’s degree in psychology and education from the University of Minnesota. He received his Ph.D degree from the University of Iowa in 1921.
Dr. Zuehl joined the Western Union faculty in 1912 as head of the department of education and psychology and continued in a full-time or part-time capacity for 50 years, through 1962.
In 1920 he followed Dr. David Metzger as dean of Westmar College and continued to hold that position until 1952, when Dr. G.O. Thompson succeeded him. From 1931 to 1952 he also was college treasurer. Dr. Zuehl continued as a member of the faculty on a part-time basis from 1952 to 1962.
In recognition of his many contributions Westmar awarded him the degree of doctor of laws in 1962.
Dr. Zuehl’s interests and accomplishments were many, ranging from building musical instruments, including a violin, to spinning wool thread with a foot powered wheel. He also was a printer and artist, doing not only personal work, but product printing for Westmar College and other community organizations.
He was active in numerous community organizations, including the Plymouth County museum, LeMars City Library board, senior citizens and Calvary United Methodist church. He was the museum’s first and current curator.
The Zuehl dining room in the Westmar commons honors Dr. and Mrs. Zuehl and in 1971 a group of friends of Dr. Zuehl purchased for the college the Oscar Howe painting, “Dawn Rider.” The plaque in the Zuehl room indicated the room was named “in recognition of the contribution to the lives of students and faculty members……over 59 years…..demonstrating what it can mean to live life for the sake of others.”
Brothers and sisters of Dr. Zuehl all preceded him in death. They included Mrs. Paulina Hartwig, Mrs. Harminia Tobsing, Mrs. Emma Harley, Fred O. Zuehl and William Zuehl.
He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
~Source: The LeMars Daily Sentinel, unknown date of publication
Tombstone Photo
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