John Norris

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-225439

Other Events:

• Business: Norris Bakery
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-70391

Notes:

Norris, Albert John

Passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at St. Mary's Hospital at the age of 86.

Dear companion to Marion Fries for 25 years. Dear father of Vaughn Norris (Arleen) of Petersburg and Pat Deitner (Ray) of Waterloo. Albert will be missed by his daughter-in-laws Marie and Mary Jane. Loving grandfather to 9 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Dear brother to Jean Bolger of Kitchener.

Predeceased by his wife Lila (nee Vaughan) Norris (1977), sons Blair (2008), John (2009), great-grandson Breck (2002), parents Herbert and Nettie (nee Geisel) Norris, brother Carl, and sister Margaret Howard.

Albert founded Norris Bakery in 1943 and over the years he opened several restaurants in K-W.

Albert's family will receive relatives and friends on Friday from 7-9 pm and on Saturday from 12:30 \endash 1:15 pm at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick St., Kitchener, 519-749-8467. Funeral service 1:30 pm on Saturday, May 2, 2009 in the chapel of the funeral home followed by a reception.

Private family interment will take place in the family plot at Memory Gardens Cemetery on Monday.
As expressions of sympathy donations to the St. Mary's Hospital Foundation would be appreciated by the family (cards available at the funeral home).

"Albert Norris - Tuesday, April 28Th, 2009". 2022. Memorials.Henrywalser.Com. https://memorials.henrywalser.com/Norris-Albert/298468/obituary.php.

Albert — Lila W. Vaughan. Lila was born 6 Sep 1924; died 5 Jan 1977; was buried , Memory Gardens Cemetery, Breslau, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Lila W. Norris
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-225435

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-161282
• Residence: 1962, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Herbert — Nettie Elizabeth Geisel. Nettie (daughter of John S. Geisel and Maryann Koch) was born 25 Oct 1895, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1986; was buried , Memory Gardens Cemetery, Breslau, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Nettie Elizabeth Norris
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-55555
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1962, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Other Events:

• Church Membership: St. Pauls Lutheran Church, Elmira, Waterloo Region Ontario
• Elected Office: Reeve of Woolwich
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-55553
• Residence: 1871, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1901, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Occupation: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1921, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1921, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1955, 5 Centre St., Elmira, Ontario

Notes:

John S. Geisel - by Record Staff Writer

ELMIRA - John S. Geisel, 95, of Elmira died Thursday at his home after a short illness. Born in Woolwich Township Sept. 20 1867, he was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Geisel Sr. He was a lifelong resident of this district. He farmed near Elmira until he retired in 1945 and moved to Elmira. Mr. Geisel was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Elmira and served on the church council over 20 years.

Surviving are his wife, the former Maryann Koch, whom he married in January 1895, three sons, Edward and Oscar of Elmira; Walter of Winterbourne, two daughters, Mrs. Herbert (Nettie) Norris of Waterloo, Mrs. Lillie Ritter of St. Jacobs; one brother, Henry of Elmira; three sisters, Mrs. Margaret Reist of Winterbourne, Mrs. Lavina Schmermund of Elmira, Mrs. Catherine Witter of St. Jacobs; 12 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. One brother and three sisters predeceased him.

The body will be at the Dreisinger Funeral Parlor until Sunday at 1 pm when removal will be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church for memorial service at 2: 30 pm. Rev. Frank Malinsky will officiate. Burial will be in Elmira Cemetery.


Kitchener-Waterloo Record 14 Dec 1962

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John S. Geisel Reminisces On Early Elmira District History

The Signet this week is paying tribute to one of the oldest couples still living, and in good health, of Elmira and district. With this issue, we present John S. Geisel, who was born on a farm close to Elmira, and who as a boy of 13 helped to make the logs and foundation blocks which went into the foundation of the West Montrose covered bridge which was started in 1880. Illness of the contractor led to a postponement, but the boy returned in 1882 to see the structure to its completion. It is one of the few covered bridges left in Ontario.

His son, Walter, now reeve in Woolwich Township, supervised the repairs to the old bridge earlier this year, and both Mr. and Mrs. Geisel were taken to the site to watch repairs.

John S. Geisel was born on a farm owned by his parents in 1867 in Woolwich Township, and here he grew to a youth of 17 before starting out to earn his own living.

For more than 51 years he can boast an unbroken record of having farmed in the district. And he retired a successful farmer, in the general sense of the term.

Mr. Geisel is a modest man, with an excellent memory. His only boast was that on the evening of marriage the bride and groom danced at a private home, and later, he smoked a last cigar, and decided to quit smoking. He left the burnt end on a window sill in order to make his resolution even more determined. For five days, he related, he restlessly passed that portion of cigar. But he was through with smoking. He then asked this reporter what he would assume a man could save by not spending 10 cents per day every day from the year 1895 when he was married to the present year, 1955. The reporter hazarded a wild guess - and he was solemnly assured, with his wife nodding confirmation, that with accumulated interest the amount saved ran to no less than $5000.

It was while doing day labor on a farm that he met his future wife in Elmira, where she was visiting a relative. The year was 1895. Mrs. Geisel is the former Mary Ann Koch of Clifford.

The young couple immediately planned to farm on the share-crop tenant basis of the old days. With his bride, who helped clean the house, which was quite old, they moved in. Their landlord by agreement provided cow pasture, wood, and $100 cash annually. They managed fairly well the first year, and in the second Mr. Geisel cleared some seven more acres, using horses to pull out the stumps.

When he embarked, in 1906, into his own stock and equipment, the prices he recalls, today, are a true reminder of what farming without the aid of self-propelled machinery could mean.

For a good milch cow, he reminisced, "I paid $17, and I think I got a bargain in two heifers, due to freshen in a few weeks, at $10 apiece. I also bought three horses for $100." He also added he bought one bob sleigh, at a sale for $7.

In the lie of farm implements, he bought, from his careful savings, a new Harris six-section harrow for $6.00. He considered this a bargain. A binder, also picked up through careful inquiries, was obtained for $3.

Mr. Geisel early learned the necessity of public service, and prior to his retirement from farming he had been a school trustee, as well as reeve. When he finally retired, and bought a dwelling in Elmira, he was also close to a church he had served for many years, the last 12 as an elder - St. Paul's Lutheran Church which he helped to build.

He could remember that, before his marriage, he would often accept a job cutting wood at 50 cents a day. Sometimes he would enter a wood-cutting contract. He remembers once having a very good partner, and cutting wood at 75 cents for 4 feet cord; and 50 cents for two-foot length cords. With the partners working daily, the average daily cut of the two men averaged four cords.

Elmira Signet

John married Maryann Koch Jan 1895. Maryann (daughter of Nicholas Koch and Barbara Ratz) was born 1867, Howick Twp., Huron Co., Ontario, Canada; died 22 May 1966, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 25 May 1966, Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Church Membership: St. Pauls Lutheran Church, Elmira, Waterloo Region Ontario
• Name: Maryann Geisel
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-401284
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1911, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1921, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran

Notes:

Mrs. John Geisel - by Record Correspondent - ELMIRA - Mrs. John Geisel, 97, of Elmira died Sunday at the Elmira Private Hospital after a short illness. Born in Howick Township, the former Maryann Koch, she was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Koch. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and an honorary member of the Ladies Aid Society. She was predeceased by her husband in 1962, a daughter, Mrs. Lillie Richards, in 1964, a brother and three sisters. Surviving are three sons, Edward and Oscar of Elmira and Walter of Winterbourne; a daughter, Mrs. Herbert (Nettie) Norris of Waterloo; 12 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. The body will be at the Dreisinger Funeral Parlor, Elmira, until noon Wednesday when removal will be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church for the funeral service at 3: 30 p.m. Rev. D. A. Fritz will conduct the service. Burial will be in Elmira cemetery.

Unidentified Newspaper Obituary

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GEISEL, John and Mary Mr. and Mrs. John Geisel Mark Sixtieth Year of Marriage

"We've had many hard times and we've had many pleasant times too," said John Geisel and his wife Mary agreed. His remark illustrated the theme which has run through their 60 years of married life, the anniversary of which they celebrated Sunday at their home, 5 Centre street.

Mr. Geisel, 87, has been a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church for 74 years. He and his 86-year old wife enjoy good health and take an active part in the church activities. Mr. Geisel, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Geisel, still works in his garden and shovels snow for exercise. For amusement he plays solo with retired fellow farmers.

His wife, the former Mary Ann Koch, can no longer sew or read. She is fond of house plants and cares for those that decorate the rooms in her home. She does her own housework and cooking. Ladies aid activities still interest her. The couple were married in St. Paul's Luther personage by Rev. John French. They were attended by Henry Geisel, the former Lena Geisel, Henry Koch and the former Christine Koch. The last two are now dead.

Mr. and Mrs. Geisel remember when Mr. Geisel worked on a 100-acre farm all winter for 27 cents a day and Mrs. Geisel was paid 75 cents a week for housework. When they set up their home they furnished it for $48 and bought two new stoves for $50. Mr. Geisel worked a year for a farmer for $100 and a rent-free house plus firewood and a cow in pasture. With the $100 they had to supply their own food for the year.

Mrs. Geisel recalls when she prepared and packaged butter for 12 cents a pound and sold eggs at eight cents a dozen. The couple started farming in Woolwich township 50 years ago in Balsam Grove school section No. 11. They were there for 51 years before selling the farm and moving to Elmira.

They have five children: Mrs. Herbert (Nettie) Norris, Waterloo; Mrs. Edward (Lillie) Ritter, St. Jacobs; Edward, Elmira; Walter, Winterbourne, and Oscar at home. They also have 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Kitchener-Waterloo Record 17 Jan 1955