Dad was born prior to the Great depression, spent the latter part of his childhood and adolesence during the depression, then entered military service at the start of WWII. He was born in, and except for a stint in the military, spent his entire life in, Quincy, Illinois. His mother was a caregiver for an invalid family, and when that family died, she inherited their house. That is where he grew up, along with his two brothers. His father was a railroad porter for the Quincy Burlington Northern, railroad line. His grandparents were second-generation immigrant Germans.
I can't say much about my Dad's childhood. He recalled it as happy. Given what he was like later, I suspect he was cheerful, obedient, diligent, good natured, and generally stayed out of trouble.
Here is what he stated about his military service. It wasn't much. He was stationed for a while in southern California, and was stationed for a while at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. On several occasions, he told me that the soldiers were so ill at Jefferson Barracks, a death wagon came around daily to pick up the dead. If I can find the photo, he did look gaunt. He said that mess halls were open 24 hours daily, to fatten up the soldiers. I don't know what happened, and he never said - was this an epidemic? Experimentation on the soldiers? Were they punished for an undescribed offense? There are no photos of Army buddies, and when I asked, he didn't say. His discharge was honorable, and he returned to Quincy. For anyone who has been in the military, never talking about it is unusual.
Upon discharge from the Army, he went to work at Electric Wheel company, a manufacturer of farm equipment and wheels for heavy equipment. He had a variety of roles in the company, over a span of 40 years. It was at Electric Wheel where he met my mom. They married and spent the rest of their lives together.
In 1954 they moved to a house where they were also to spend the rest of their lives. It is there that my brother Richard and I grew up. He loved to fish, spending many weekends on the Mississippi. Later, they bought a small farm, and our weekends were spent there.
Dad walked to work every day. He lived about one mile from work. After retirement, he and my mother walked every day as well, weather permitting. I think the walking kept them healthy. For much of their last 20 years or so, they were vegetarian as well, more due to my mom's high cholesterol than for philosophical reasons.
Dad was a Mason, but didn't talk about it at home. He never invited me to join. As for religion, he grew up Lutheran. After moving to the house where they raised Richard and me, they attended Immanuel Baptist church. I always thought this was due to convenience, the church was a one-block walk from the house. We never discussed theology, I don't know how deeply my parents beleived in their religion. They had no problem with playing cards, or dance, virtually never drank but had nothing against it, and Dad quit smoking when I was born (I think).
After Richard and I grew up and left, my parents lived quietly and modestly. Immanuel Baptist ultimately underwent a schism over ideology, split, and foundered. They did not find another church.
My parents always had a vegetable garden. Even when he could barely walk out to the yard, Dad had a couple of tomato plants in his compost pile. They planted uncounted numbers of trees on their farm. They planted shade trees in their lawn, and fruit trees in their back yard. They liked growing apples, and peaches, and cherried. He loved woodworking, and using old tools to carve animals and scenes from aged wood derived from the fallen barn.
When our Mom became increasingly ill, and dementia became more worrisome, Dad cared for her until his own illness left him unable to. I moved her to Good Samaritan home, where she is now. When his own illness left him unable to care for himself, Dad also moved to Good Samaritan. This final period was a time of loss and suffering. His greatest desire was to stay in his house until he died, but that was not possible. His other greatest desire was for my mother to be with him until one of them died. That wasn't possible, but they did spend more time together again when he was on hospice at Good Samaritan.
This is my grandmother with her baby boy. The photo is unlabeled, and I'm not sure if it's my Dad or one of his brothers.
This is clearly my dad. The eyes, the cheeks, the ears, the expression. Also, the photo was labeled.
With a cookie.
On his tricycle.
Now on his bike. This is the house I remember, where he grew up and where I remember visting his dad.
Undated photo.
As a strapping young man.
This photo is labeled "Kiwanis Key Club". There he is, with all that hair, middle back row.
Yes, he was smart and diligent.
On joining the Army.
Wedding photo, Sept 23, 1945. I can't imagine one without the other, if any two people belong together it's these two. They chose the date when he asked my Mom, "so, Maxine, when are we getting married" and she picked the date randomly, "Let's get married on Sept 23rd". So they did.
In 1961. Raising 2 boys.
With his dad and 2 brother, on left is Bill (Arnold Lee) then his dad, then Waddy. (Wadsworth Herrman), then Dad. This phote is dated June 1967.
He liked to quayle hunt. After this photo, I have a 25 year absence of photos. There may be a lot, I just haven't explored all of the boxes yet. if I can locate more, I'll scan them in as well.
Visiting me in Oregon. I'm not sure he liked the trip. My mom was fairly clear that she did not, not seeing why I had to live so far away.
In 1994. Dressed for a re-enactment of the Lincoln-Douglas depate.
Their 50th anniversary "official photo".
Their 50th anniversary party was the last time that I say them at any social setting among other people.Obituary:
Dad wrote his own obit. If there is any discrepancy between his info and mine, I'm sure his version is more correct. My info was entirely from memory, and likely flawed. One correction, he was Army, or Army Air Corps, not Air Force.
Mr. Lawrence E. Wachenheim, 90, of the Good Samaritan Home, formerly of 2512 Lind, Quincy, died at 5:00 am Tuesday (August 17, 2010) in Good Samaritan Home.
Born July 22, 1920 in Quincy, Lawrence was the son of Lawrence and Anna Herrmann Wachenheim. He married Mildred Maxine Alcorn on September 23, 1945 in Quincy. She survives.
A graduate of Quincy High School and Gem City Business College, Mr. Wachenheim was employed at Electric Wheel for 42 years. He retired as the Pricing Analyst in 1982.
Lawrence served his country in the U.S. Air Force during WW II. Active in the Quincy community, Lawrence served as President and Treasurer of United Way, National Cost Accountants, Future Farmers of America and the Quincy Public Library. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Quincy where he taught Sunday School for 25 years, Great River Genealogical Society and a 50 year member of Lambert Masonic Lodge No. 659 and Quincy Consistory. Lawrence was a former member of the Quincy Gun Club and he enjoyed reading, hunting, fishing and woodworking.
Survivors include his wife, Maxine; two sons, Richard Bruce Wachenheim of Romeoville, IL and Dr. Daniel E. Wachenheim of Vancouver, Wa; two nieces and one nephew.
Mr. Wachenheim was prededed in death by his parents; and two brothers; Wadsworth Wachenheim and Arnold Wachenheim.
Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 10:30 in the Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Quincy.
Visitation will be Thursday evening from 4:00 to 7:00 and Friday morning until the time of services at the funeral home. Lambert Masonic Lodge No. 659 will conduct services Thursday evening at 7:00 at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Quincy Public Library.
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