Mary Katschke Fassel (1920-1932)
FASSEL, KATSCHKE, YOUNT
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 3/11/2010 at 07:55:09
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, March 10, 2010.
March 30, 1920-March 4, 2010
Mary Katschke Fassel, 89, of Rancho Bernardo, Calif., and formerly of Ames, died of complications from a fall on Thursday, March 4, 2010.
Mary was born in Fredricktown, Mo. to Henry and Iva (Yount) Katschke. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State College where she met her husband and partner in life, Velmer A. Fassel. After a three-year courtship, they were married on July 25, 1943 at First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau, Mo. in a union that would last for 55 years.
Mary taught school for two years in Missouri until she married and moved to Ames to join Velmer, where he worked as a graduate student on the Manhattan Project and earned a doctorate degree in analytical chemistry at Iowa State College. She worked for the first 10 years of their marriage at ISC conducting analyses on uranium to determine the calcium, magnesium and boron content.
The following text was provided to Iowa State University by a friend when Mary was honored by Velmer after his death with a brick in the Plaza of Heroines on the ISU campus:
“Velmer would be the first to say that Mary was an integral part of his success. Visiting scholars and dignitaries from around the world were captivated by Mary’s gourmet cooking and hospitality. Their home and yard was Mary’s showcase and provided the ambiance for their many parties from their wassail to psychedelic to the annual New Year’s Eve galas. Since Velmer’s international reputation required a great deal of travel, Mary was his constant companion around the world. She was the behind-the-scenes aide and a great asset in the many social events required of them. Mary was a member of the Faculty Women’s Club and volunteered in the Mary Greeley Hospitality Shop. The Fassel’s were members of the Collegiate Presbyterian Church where Mary served as deaconess and elder.”
She also was a member of the Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church.
Mary and Velmer retired to Rancho Bernardo, Calif. in 1987. She pursued their shared interest in dancing and entertaining until Velmer’s death on March 4, 1998. She loved to work in her flower garden especially growing roses and gerbera daisies. She nurtured the many friendships she had formed over the years and continued to return to Ames and the ISU campus for the annual Velmer A. Fassel Lecture in Analytical Chemistry until her health prevented her from travelling.
She is survived by two sister-in-laws and 15 nephews and nieces.
Memorials may be directed to the ISU Foundation to be used to support the Mary K. and Velmer A. Fassel Fellowship in Analytical Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at ISU.
A memorial service will be at a later date.
Adams Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
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